Congratulations, Cheryl - you've taken a HUGE step forward in your evolution as a crossdresser, and all of us who are out and about in public with you can relate to the mixed feelings of both sheer terror and euphoria/exhilaration that you must have felt as you took those fateful first steps. Not unlike losing one's virginity, actually, and once that threshold is crossed, there is no turning back, and you will never be content again to just dress in private.
One observation, though. You mentioned that you tried to avoid making eye contact with others to remain as unobtrusive as possible. Classic newbie mistake, and also very WRONG. Yes, we all have a tendency to do that at first and it is a normal, knee-jerk reaction. It is also completely counter-intuitive. And it took a GG (my nail tech, actually) who pointed this out to me once, telling me that I looked just fine
en femme, and that not making eye contact sent out a message that I had something to be ashamed of, which in her opinion, I definitely did not.
The fact is, it is normal and accepted practice for GG's not only to make such eye contact when their paths cross in public, but also to smile at each other freely. It is subliminal body language on their part, and signals an unspoken message of solidarity and sisterhood to each other i.e. their defenses are down, and they are open to interacting with each other if the situation warrants it. Not doing so sends the exact opposite message, and leaves the impression that the other party is either unsure of themselves, is self-conscious, or else has something to hide i.e. they need to be scrutinized even more closely to try to determine what their story is.
These signals are picked up by GG's and analyzed within the space of microseconds, and can make all the difference in the world between being "read" and accepted, and being "read" and looked upon with suspicion and/or an element of derision.
Now as for the average genetic male, unless you are wearing a fright wig, clown make-up, and a micro-mini skirt with fishnets and 6" stilettos, they are usually so clueless about recognizing your true gender that they will just walk past you without even giving you a second look - eye contact notwithstanding.
Just my $0.02 worth...