I had an amazing night last Friday, and I just wanted to share it here. About a month ago, I came out to a close friend of mine, a GG, who has been wonderful and supportive ...as I knew she would be. She has been encouraging me for weeks to pick a night when we could go out as girlfriends on what she has been calling my "Maiden Voyage," a term that has delighted me. We finally made plans, targeting last Friday.
I got fully made up (understated, age appropriate, etc.) and drove over to her house where I was greeted by her and her husband (who also knows and is very accepting). She met me with tears in her eyes, the first first person *ever* to see the real me; I have never presented as a woman for anyone before. She told me I looked beautiful ...which I doubt is true, but she made me feel beautiful; she is a true friend. We went out to a local restaurant. For the first part of the evening, I kept scanning for eyes that might catch sight of me and then give me more thorough, questioning scrutiny.
Not a single person looked twice; people noticed me as I walked past, but then had absolutely no further reaction. I don't know if I "passed" per se; my friend told me I looked absolutely natural, and that she wasn't at all surprised I wasn't getting any further looks. I guess that ultimately the reason I didn't draw attention didn't matter. What mattered was that I was out and about with my dear friend and living a dream: presenting as my real self.
I've read dozens and dozens of these stories here over the years, and each time thought, "Well that's great, but it's highly improbable. I'll never find that." I've been extremely hopeless in the past. Everyone here is always great about offering congratulations and support for these stories, but that's not really why I'm writing. Rather I just wanted to post this as evidence for everyone living like I was: in fear and hopelessness. Even against seemingly huge odds, wonderful things can happen. I've learned that for a little patience, for a little discrete opening up, and for a little prudent risk taking, there can be great rewards.
Have courage, and never give up hope. You never know what the future may hold.