Roberta Lynn
06-05-2007, 05:54 PM
I spent an extended weekend, (Thur. -Sun.) at The B-All conference In Chicago.
Up until then my house has been my closet. I had never been out of the house dressed. I know some people say going to these conferences is just going to a bigger closet. But if that's the case it is one humongous closet, including the lobby, bar, restaurant ,giant atrium, conference center and eventually the parking lot. Plus this closet has about 500 other people to interact with.
Since I live close to the B-All conference one of the girls here asked if I was going.
I had seen the thread announcing the B-All but as timid as I am the thought had never crossed my mind. But her question did plant the seed. I PMd some of the others that had responded to the announcing thread and everyone encouraged me to attend, saying it was the perfect place for someone like me to be out for the first time.
THEY WERE RIGHT!
Although Thursday when I arrived I wasn't so sure. I didn't know what to bring so I packed just about everything I have, and a bunch of my wife's things (she Knows). May have been too much because I was the only one I saw with a suitcase with dually wheels and a trailer hitch.
Two trips to haul everything up to my sixth floor suite and I had arrived. My first thought was 'Great Room! '. My second thought was what in the hell am I doing here? My confidence level was about zero.
I had made arrangements to meet a couple of our forum sisters here ( Joy and Teresa), They had told me to call when I arrived. So I called Joy and told her I was here and she said call again when Roberta was ready. Of course I had driven down as Robert so I spent maybe the next hour getting 'Robertasized' .
I called again told them I was ready and Teresa, bless her heart, asked if I would like her to come up to my room and escort me down.
We took the elevator down to the main floor of the Atrium and the vendor area. The spectrum of people there was amazing. Everyone from drop dead gorgeous girls, to just guys in a dress. There were CDs , TS, TG, MtF, FtM, GGs SO, the whole fricking alphabet.
The BEST thing was that everybody was having a good time. Nobody criticized how anyone else presented themselves. Everyone was friendly, including everyone I met from the hotel staff.
The next 3 days Teresa, Joy and Roberta had a wonderful time.
Wow, this is a long post, longest I've ever written. I didn't even give you any details about the seminars, lunches, dinners, talent show, key note speaker,(Susan Stanton) or what I got to wear. Guess I'm still flying high from the experience.
PICTURES
Sorry I know a picture is worth a thousand words, but I didn't do pictures.
There are some on Teresa's thread in the picture gallery. None of me though I'm camera shy.
http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59749
I do have many indelible memory pictures.
Meeting 90 year old Barbara from Florida, full of jokes, full of stories, full of life, what a wonderful person.
The lobby, hearing that delightful sound of heels on the tile floor and know it's coming from you.
Walking up the stairs between the lobby and the Atrium, seeing your reflection in the big mirror on the landing. ( Ya have to look, right)
Same thing, Walking, seeing your reflection in the glass walls on the covered bridge over the road between the hotel and the conference center. (Ya have to look, right)
Having someone compliment you in the elevator on what a nice top and skirt you have on.
Wind ruffling my skirt as I take some things out to my car Sunday morning. (confidence level sky high)
So many more
Thanks again to my big 'sisters' Teresa and Joy
Final Impression, My house just seems too small now.
Up until then my house has been my closet. I had never been out of the house dressed. I know some people say going to these conferences is just going to a bigger closet. But if that's the case it is one humongous closet, including the lobby, bar, restaurant ,giant atrium, conference center and eventually the parking lot. Plus this closet has about 500 other people to interact with.
Since I live close to the B-All conference one of the girls here asked if I was going.
I had seen the thread announcing the B-All but as timid as I am the thought had never crossed my mind. But her question did plant the seed. I PMd some of the others that had responded to the announcing thread and everyone encouraged me to attend, saying it was the perfect place for someone like me to be out for the first time.
THEY WERE RIGHT!
Although Thursday when I arrived I wasn't so sure. I didn't know what to bring so I packed just about everything I have, and a bunch of my wife's things (she Knows). May have been too much because I was the only one I saw with a suitcase with dually wheels and a trailer hitch.
Two trips to haul everything up to my sixth floor suite and I had arrived. My first thought was 'Great Room! '. My second thought was what in the hell am I doing here? My confidence level was about zero.
I had made arrangements to meet a couple of our forum sisters here ( Joy and Teresa), They had told me to call when I arrived. So I called Joy and told her I was here and she said call again when Roberta was ready. Of course I had driven down as Robert so I spent maybe the next hour getting 'Robertasized' .
I called again told them I was ready and Teresa, bless her heart, asked if I would like her to come up to my room and escort me down.
We took the elevator down to the main floor of the Atrium and the vendor area. The spectrum of people there was amazing. Everyone from drop dead gorgeous girls, to just guys in a dress. There were CDs , TS, TG, MtF, FtM, GGs SO, the whole fricking alphabet.
The BEST thing was that everybody was having a good time. Nobody criticized how anyone else presented themselves. Everyone was friendly, including everyone I met from the hotel staff.
The next 3 days Teresa, Joy and Roberta had a wonderful time.
Wow, this is a long post, longest I've ever written. I didn't even give you any details about the seminars, lunches, dinners, talent show, key note speaker,(Susan Stanton) or what I got to wear. Guess I'm still flying high from the experience.
PICTURES
Sorry I know a picture is worth a thousand words, but I didn't do pictures.
There are some on Teresa's thread in the picture gallery. None of me though I'm camera shy.
http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59749
I do have many indelible memory pictures.
Meeting 90 year old Barbara from Florida, full of jokes, full of stories, full of life, what a wonderful person.
The lobby, hearing that delightful sound of heels on the tile floor and know it's coming from you.
Walking up the stairs between the lobby and the Atrium, seeing your reflection in the big mirror on the landing. ( Ya have to look, right)
Same thing, Walking, seeing your reflection in the glass walls on the covered bridge over the road between the hotel and the conference center. (Ya have to look, right)
Having someone compliment you in the elevator on what a nice top and skirt you have on.
Wind ruffling my skirt as I take some things out to my car Sunday morning. (confidence level sky high)
So many more
Thanks again to my big 'sisters' Teresa and Joy
Final Impression, My house just seems too small now.