Happy belated birthday​ MichelleLea! ​​ 

Me too, MichelleLea, happy birthday. 

So, you were born in ‘42? What a time to grow up. I suppose you don’t have any memories of WW2 people coming home and resettling. But then there was the Korean War, and Vietnam, of course. That’s a lot of wars, too many. 

I was born in ‘56 and I well remember Vietnam, with Walter Cronkite reporting each night. I just missed being drafted which was quite fortunate of course. 

So much has changed mostly for the better since then, especially as regards being transgender. I surreptitiously read everything I happened across, mostly about Christine Jorgensen. But also about transvestites, which always sounded like some kind of nasty thing, like a parasite. 

Ah well, better late than never. I’m glad you found us, and enjoy yourself in the chat room. It does feel so great to just be yourself, doesn’t it. 

Good luck this week. Yours is an especially tough sales job. Not only cold calling and all that but also selling a solution to a need that most would prefer to ignore or procrastinate. So much of the job is about selling yourself, bonding and connecting with people so they trust and want to do business with you. It takes a special talent and kind of person and I feel you’re going to do very well.

Emma

Thanks, Emma. It seems that the people who buy our products are especially nice themselves and care about their employees.I will be happy to have them as clients. It looks like Thursday is the big day as we are lined up to open four accounts. So far, so good.

Dear MichelleLea,

Happy belated birthday.

My mother used to say, may God rest her soul, "If a card is late, it doesn't count."

However, with my health struggles, I am now often late.  Can't get to the store when my back is out or when it is pouring rain.

Just do the best I can.

Assuming your family is getting older, too, because you are 75, so they may have difficulty getting out at times, too.  Were they always this way?

Maybe your friends and coworkers are your family of choice.

It hurts, because my half-brother and I do not speak at all, my oldest brother and I e-mail about four times a year, and my middle brother and I speak on the phone about five minutes once a week and my youngest brother and I have Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and my birthday together, and maybe he returns my text once a month.

Just to let you know, one out of three persons are estranged from at least one member of their family.

You are not alone.

Your friend,

Monica