OMG!
I have to be up in just a few hours but I'm still so wired after my amazing first night out dressed, all orchestrated by the bestest and sweetest big sis any girl could have, AmyGale RT.
I'm in Amy's hometown of Denver for a trade show, so it was a golden opportunity to tackle a number of firsts for me: first time out dressed en femme - and, hence, first time needing a purse; first time meeting other crossdressers; first time using a somewhat-femme voice in front of others; first time interacting with "civilians" while dressed as a woman.
After an incident-free journey to the Mile High City, I thought my plans would be squashed when I almost couldn't get my Julie gear -- which I had shipped to my hotel ahead of me -- because the mailroom was closed. Luckily, I got the concierge to retrieve my parcel and I finally made it to the Gender Identity Center in Denver, where Amy had arranged for me to make my transformation. As I walked up the street from my car to the center, where Amy was standing outside waiting for me, I kept thinking, "Wow, this just got real." By that I mean, up until now I had been a totally private dresser, never even met another crossdresser other than on this forum. But finally getting to meet Amy in the flesh put things into a whole new dimension for me.
That dimension took on new angles as I made my transformation, knowing there were people out there I'd have to face while dressed, trying to get my makeup as perfect as possible (first time curling my eyelashes), getting frazzled when it was sweating away almost as fast as I could apply it, thwarting my Secret deodorant and body spray (oh yeah -- first time wearing women's deodorant) until the AC kicked in, and then, at last -- in my Avenue B&W giraffe print dress, nude hose, nude patent slingbacks, wig, makeup and accessories -- revealed myself to Amy and the others outside. And then, having to actually walk outside (!) to Amy's car (after sundown by this time), driving over to the Black Crown, having to park several blocks away and take the longest walk I'd ever made in heels, over rugged asphalt, up curbs and across a major street, then up the block to the club -- oh, yeah, this just got real.
The Black Crown is an amazing place - ornate, festooned with antiques, live jazz, and totally LGBT friendly. To be addressed as "ladies" by staff and patrons -- wow! Of course, Amy's a regular, so she knows the place and they know her. After assessing the various rooms, we finally took seats in an outdoor courtyard, where a beautiful night with a pleasant breeze solved my sweaty makeup problem and caressed my stockinged legs as I tried to sit and converse as ladylike as possible. A fellow sitting nearby, as he got up to leave, said to me, "I love your shoes!" Wow!
We met a few other crossdressers there, including Felicia, a friend of Amy's who greeted us with hugs and joined us to sit. Then a "civilian" couple at an adjacent table invited us to join them, and we engaged in a wide-ranging conversation into the wee hours, totally accepting of our feminine personas.
I must admit, early in the going, I could barely utter a word (Amy talking and singing in her melodious femme voice, putting me at ease), just still trying to drink it all in, to get used to the idea of, holy crap! I'm really out and about dressed as a woman! But I'd never given much thought to my feminine personality; really, other than enjoying dressing up, there's nothing really feminine about me and I'm absolutely comfortable being a guy. As the evening wore on, however, I found that I was conversing much as my guy side would -- sort of "filtering" my male self through Julie -- but perhaps a bit softer, with some of the rough edges smoothed off. And I so enjoyed just being comfortable being dressed, and, finally, not alone.
All too soon, it was time to call it a night. Back to the GIC, big hugs and final photos with Amy, then an all-too-quick deconstruction back to drab. Oh, I nearly forgot ... Amy is SO SWEET -- she got me a "coming out" gift: some Lady Gaga Fame perfume!
OMG -- it's 3 a.m. and I'm not even tired, but I need to get some sleep or I'll be totally useless on the job in the morning. But I know I'm going to be thinking about this evening all day.
I'll leave you with one photo from my outing and post a few more in the photo gallery later.
Keeping it real,
Julie
crossdressing...theirs an app for that 
