10 years on CD.com - a retrospective

[michelleddg]

Hello Lovely Ladies!

10 years ago today I took the plunge and signed up on crossdressers.com. Good call for sure! Some thoughts as I enter my second decade on the site:

CD.com is my happy place. I post stories, experiences, photos and occasional newsworthy media links. I post short expressions of support and occasional tips and tricks. (I'll guess my most viewed post is my MAC Makeover Primer from 2012 which I repost from time to time. It has aged well.)

I've posted 1,500+ times, so on average once every other day. I've started 170 threads, so roughly once every 3 weeks, mostly to sections that allow photos. Yes, I'm vain, love feedback, who doesn't?

I do not engage in extended debate. I feel no need to win arguments, show how wonderful I am or share information about my boy self. I have called out what I consider to be bad behavior a handful of times.

I've knocked over some serious bucket list items in the last 10 years. 3 professional boudoir photo shoots, a professional wedding dress shoot, 4 times flying pretty, silly outings in drag, galavanting through downtown Houston in my Janet from Rocky Horror costume, seven annual weeks of Michelle Does Vegas. Perhaps best is I've shared a meal with over a dozen of y'all.

Most site participants are just passing through to a greater or lesser extent. Some are incredible bedrock with constant participation over many, many years. Me? I expect to write a follow up to this post on 1/21/31. See you then!

Hugs, Michelle

[Helen_Highwater]

Michelle,

Congratulations on the milestone and of course you're right, this is a great place to be. I must admit you made me look back to see how long I've been here and it was 11 years on the 7th. Goodness where does the time go?

[Samm]

Its a date! I'm sure I'll probably still be here.
It really is a wonderful resource, this little place of ours...

[Meghan4now]

You went out to dinner with people from this site????? Hopefully they were well behaved!

Yeah, this place has been a source of both information and opinion. For most, it's been like high school. Not every relationship or conversation is quite as good as another, but we've sort of jammed together and seen a diversity of this CD/TG life. Like high school, a short tenure can make a lasting impression.

[Stevie Allyn]

Congratulations Michelle! Here's hoping to be here to read your "20 years ago today" post in ten years time!

[Leslie Langford]

You've been a rock and an inspiration here, michelle, and your authenticity always shines through...exactly as you have described yourself in your post above. "Just the facts, Ma'am"...no bull, pretentiousness, navel-gazing, or drama...just an inspiration to all of us here of what we can aspire to and achieve as you document the milestones of your journey as a crossdresser extraordinaire while whittling away at your personal Bucket List.

Much love to you, and while I haven't had the opportunity to meet you in person (yet), I truly value your friendship, even if it is only online at the moment.

[darla_g]

Congrats I guess if there is a 10 year club I'm on it too

[Fran Moore]

How time flies when you are having fun Michelle! I always enjoy your posts and hope to for years to come as well~

[Lana Mae]

Don't know if I have another 10 years, but as long as I can help someone. I will be here! Congrats on your milestone! Hugs Lana Mae

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Michelle :hugs:, Congratulations on your tenth Anniversary, >Orchid**O:daydreaming:O**

[Crissy 107]

Michelle, Congratulations on this milestone! Time does fly, much too fast if I may add that.
Thank you for all of your contributions to this wonderful site! Hugs, Crissy

[Karren H]

Welcome to the club!! We need to have a party (after the pandemic) or give out certificates.....

[Sandy Clifton]

Congrats on your milestone; I'm about
three-quarters of the way to that tenure.

Our friendship is a result of us being on this
site; I'm glad we both joined!

[bridget thronton]

I am glad each of you on this thread joined and continue to hang out. Happy 10th Michelle

[erickka]

Congrats on a decade of faithful service to the community! LOL I just checked and it will be 14 yrs. in March since I made mu debut here.

[Teri Ray]

Thanks for being her and sharing for the last 10 years. Here's hoping for many more decades of your thoughts and adventures.

[gwencd158]

Oh my! 15 years for me. Although I’ll admit to not being a prolific poster, I am an avid reader probably on a daily basis.

[Cheryl T]

Congratulations.
I had to check to see and for me I'll celebrate 15 years next month. Hard to believe it's been that long.

[Stephanie47]

Yep, it's been ten years for me too. Probably longer with lurking time thrown in. I've been fully retired since January 2008. I've posted a lot, primarily because as a retiree I have time to kill. Without this site I'd probably go nuts...at least more nuttier than I am now. It has been helpful to know I am not alone in this universe. Not that I enjoy reading about others stuck in a DADT marriage, but, it is nice to know there are many others who survived "The Talk." Sometimes I do wonder if there are clinically minded persons with access to this site using this site to get into the heads of cross dressers and transgender women. What makes us tick? Why compels us to do the things we do under the most dire of circumstances? Really does not make sense, does it?

Some are deeply hiding, fearing the reveal and a battle to come with a not so understanding wife. Others have wives who treat their soul mates as the occasional woman. Even if I cannot prepare dinner a la June Cleaver with a wife patting my rear end I do enjoy reading the exploits of others. It similar to reading about places others have been, but there is a slim chances I will go there.

I will say this, if you do not see me posting for some period of time I have probably passed on.

Happy anniversary, Michelle

[Natalie5004]

Wonderful post, thank you.

I will say I am very glad to find this site and use it. I am very glad there are 1000's of people that think like me regarding being a part time transvestite. When I am Natalie, I am a lesbian.

My hat is off to all of you girls here.

[candykowal]

Where does the time go?
You had me looking up my date too...come this October, I can join the 10 year club too.
I've been to the Houston area a few time on my way down to Port Aransas and it sounds like a fun hub of activity.
You also mentioned you did some flying while presenting...wondering if that was to join the mile high club? Hmmmmm? :heehee:
I'm just being silly.
I really hope to be here in 2031 but who knows, our society is changing and it soon maybe "NO BIG DEAL!" ...to be Candy while kissing my wife.
The forum might loose it's purpose.
Or the internet could be shutdown for being to polarizing in society...you just never know.
I can only hope I can still walk in a pair of heels at 72....and present in a pretty way.

[Liz Jones]

Hi,
I can manage 4" heels --- at 78 ! just dont ask me to walk ......... Doc will be along in a minute to tell you .......?

[Jane G]

I love a few statistics every now and then. Here,s to the next 10 and may you enjoy each and every one. Times change slowly but they do change. Perhaps in another 10 years perhaps CD will be accepted as what are now almost main stream LGBT.:)

[Maria 60]

Congratulations on this milestone. I'm going to check and see how long I've been here. I believe it's because people like yourself why this site is so amazing and worth staying here all this time. I feel just like myself we are all very honest people here who even though we are all in the same boat but rowing in different directions we can help each other out. And of course in any family there's always that black sheep and like you what said your not going to fight to win an argument.
I remember lurking here for so long and one day I just did it and it felt so good that for the first time I spoke freely as my fem side and with people who were able to relate to my problem. It's amazing when something new happens or anything in general with my dressing how I can't wait to share it here. Thanks for your contribution to make this site as amazing as it is and hope we can share many many more good and bad times together as we row this boat down the river together. Thanks

[Beverley Sims]

The next ten should be as enjoyable.

Go for it.

[michelleddg]

Hello Lovely Ladies!

Such an inspiring array of responses! crossdressers.com resonates with so many. And, heck, it's been around longer than Facebook :-0

Great to hear from so many of the honored site veterans. So many years in the fold, so many comments. Incredible!

Shout out to my Texas Bestie Sandy Clifton, co-instigator of so many of my adventures and story teller beyond compare. Looking forward to our 2021 reboot even though you're too young to be near the front of the vaccine queue.

Shout out to my Canada Bestie Leslie Lanford, such a consistent voice of reason here and fluid writer nonperil. I have made it my top 2021 objective that we share afternoon tea in a fancy hotel. Maybe even with out spouses, whatcha think?

Shout out to my Buckeye Bestie Meghan Fournoit, a constant stream of insight. It's been way too long but, gentle reminder, it's your turn to come see me. Although word on the street is that vaccines are very hard to come by in your neck of the woods.

Hugs, Michelle

[Territx]

👏 Congratulations on "10 years" -- WOW, that is great! Since I am sure you have the topics for the "threads of 2021"(and maybe beyond) all lined out, I look forward to seeing many more posts!!!

Terri

PS. I miss seeing you.

[alwayshave]

Michelle, Congratulations on making it ten years and all your various milestones. You made me looking I will have been on the site 10 years this coming December.

[mbmeen12]

I'm close to hitting that mark also. Congrads to all, be well and be safe.

Big hugs Kara