for the very first time

[Rachel Ann]

GOD BLESS JOANNA for cajoling, coaxing and giving me the courage to do this. Not to mention paying my way! Were it not for her I might have put this off for months.

I was as jumpy as a hen for days before. This was my first time fully made up and dressed. And my first time out, if a Tgirl social counts as "out". My "coming out party" perhaps. Were this not my "like a virgin" experience I would have put them in the Pictures Thread instead of hogging a whole one.

I insisted on not seeing myself in the mirror until it was all done. When I did I gasped and almost cried (would have ruined my makeup). I had NEVER felt like this and didn't think I could ever look like this.

A wonderful (and delightfully salty) gal named Joan (pronounced like Joann, don't ask me) did my makeup and hair. The first jolt of electricity came during the process when I put my cigarette in the ashtray and saw lipstick on it!!! I think that the earrings were over the top but I was in no mood to question her!!!

And it was just SO nice to be among other Tgirls (the gamut from CDs to post-ops) in a relaxed setting.

I haven't photoshopped these yet, but here they are. Joanna and I agreed that the ones of us together are "community property". I have some of her alone but it is her privilege to post them or not.

So without further ado - not bad for an old broad, I hope!

My faves:

#059


#053


#057


#066


(continued)

[Rachel Ann]

The rest (I'm not really unhappy with any of them):

#061


#001


#056


(continued)

[Rachel Ann]

You have all already seen this one:




And a tribute to the girl who got me this far:



I was still on cloud 7 during Thanksgiving dinner, kept flashing back to the night before!

Love to all of you for helping me get this far. I am sure that I will have better clothes and pictures in future but I am just delighted with these for now.

[DonnaT]

And a tribute to the girl who got me this far:

I was wonder where that little girl got to. She's all growed up. Nice pictures. Thanks.

[Jen_TGCD]

Awwww Rachel... you are lovely!!!

I know just how you feel!!! It's a moment that you will remember forever. The woman within emerges through the hard crust of the male cocoon... and that first look in the mirror... the shock... the joy... the tears! And, what better friend to have with you, than Joanna. What an incredible experience for you. It took a lot of courage to come out to us... and I'm thrilled.



Love ya ! ! !

[JoannaDees]

OMG! Rachel! You posted the MOO MOO pics!!!!!!! I hate those, I look like great Aunt Marie!!!!!!!! Bleah!!!

[Jen_TGCD]

Joanna... if you get any prettier... I'm going to come over there and mess up your lipstick! ! ! And, I MEAN IT ! ! ! That smile... whew!!!

[JoannaDees]

Andy! Have you seen Opi????? Oh my!

[JoannaDees]

Or how about Aunt Barney ... big purple ....... ewwwww.

[Rachel Ann]

Joanna

I am SO SORRY, I misunderstood you before

They are down now. Will you forgive me? Only a couple of people saw them, I think.

*hangs head*

[Sharon]

Rachel,
I'm so happy that you had such a wonderful time and you simply look beautiful! It's incredible to look at you that this was your first time! Congratulations.
Sharon

[babe4life]

Rachel,

What beautiful photos. You look gobsmackingly incredible. Really, really pretty. Thank you.

Joanna, as always, you look great!

Thank you both! Helped make my day!!

Love,
Vicky

[Tristen Cox]

Ladies ladies ladies FANDAMTABULOS!!!!!!!

Now where were you hiding those? Hmmm??

You look good for a night out on the town, now keep'em coming ok

*Great big squashing hugs*
Tristen

[racquel]

Rachel Ann you look great,terrific smile,i'm betting you had the time of your life.great pics.you look good in that outfit.thanksss for sharing.

[christine55]

I am currently stuck in one of the very red states. Wish I could get time off to attend a TG function, would be a blast. Would love to meet many of you girls.
Hugs, Christine

[Wenda]

excellent pics rachelle ann, I am hoping to get a bit of a makeover over the holidays, and hope to post something in 05. Hope they are in the same league as yours! wenda.

[Amelie]

Beautiful pics Rachel, you look lovely. So does Joanna. You both look so happy. You must of had a lot of fun taking these pics.
Love Amelie

PS-I missed the Aunt Marie pics.

[Rachel Ann]

Amelie

Thanks. I decided that it was Joanna's privilege to post certain pics, or not. They just forced a really frumpy dress on her for the second "set" and I don't blame her.

See below for alternate pictures.

Love

[Julie]

Rachel Ann you've spent all this time trying to convince us you were way too old to post your pictures here then you lay these on us. Girl you look fabulous, it sounds like you had a great time also. Joanna, well she always looks great. Thank you both for sharing.

JJ

[paulaN]

Thank you for sharing you're pics. I bet you had a wonderful time. Someday I'm going to get a makeover. LOL paula

[Rachel Ann]

In deference to Joanna, I cropped her out of the ones in which she is wearing the dress she didn't like. However, see next post for some head shots in which she appears!

I think that in the short wig, the blue dress and the hooker lipstick I look like an over-the-hill actress on a talk show. Maybe I should have cropped myself out too!

[Rachel Ann]

And, (Joanna looking good!) same pics, head shots

[Stephanie Brooks]

All three of you look great!!!!! Looks as though you had much fun.