I have had several things happen to me recently that are funny, and have to do with transitioning. I call them "trans stories" - because they are things that could/would not have happened aside from the fact that I/we are transgender, transsexual, transitioning, or have transitioned. I will just post one here, and I am sure some of you may have some you would like to share.
I have my own business and I service a certain item in people's homes, and in schools and other businesses. I showed up for a service call last week and was greeted by a very attractive 30-something new female employee at this business. I said hello, and introduced myself. She said "Hello, I am Joanne Mills (name changed to protect the innocent). I am the new Mark." I must have gotten a shocked look on my face, and I know I paused for a few seconds at least, because of what was going through my mind right then. She then quickly offered her title - "I am the new events coordinator" - as if I did not know Mark, what he did, and that he had left the company. We chatted for maybe only a minute or so, and I recused myself because I needed to meet a completion deadline for my project.
When I was finished I went to her office, thanked her for introducing herself to me, and said I needed to tell her what I was thinking when she first introduced herself. Now I have worked with this company more than 10 years, and I know everyone, and everyone knows me. When I came out to the world about four months ago I had a sit-down talk with a couple of the employees I work with most often, and whom I consider to be friends. I know they shared this with everyone else, and of course would have informed this new employee who I was, because she would be the one greeting me when I arrived early this morning.
I said "I appreciated meeting you. Thank you for coming and introducing yourself. But I have to tell you, when you introduced yourself, said "I am the new Mark", I almost said "Wow, who was your surgeon? Because she did an awesome job!" She got a 'thinking now' look on her face, and when she realized what she had said, and that I am transgender (and perhaps that I might be looking for a surgeon?), she absolutely broke out in laughter.