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Thanks for sharing with us Emma, and I really enjoyed the read, well spoken!!!!

Hey Michael, Regarding the restaurant manager, no, I'm not worried. I'd actually mentioned the possibility of running into someone I knew to my wife and our therapist when we met a couple of days ago; we decided it was going to be - or would be - "no big deal." (Funny how those three little words keep appearing!) Emma

Sounds like the Boise, Idaho meetings,sans the therapist, as we are all in someway a therapist to one another in our own ways. I am very happy for you. Remember, whether you get on the train or not, whether you ride to the end of the line or get off to shop.. no matter what you do, it's yours to do it with. There is no right or wrong as long as you are owning your decisions. I appreciate what you wrote about the spouses. I am not married, but if I ever get maried, I hope that I will be the kind of husband that wants the best for the family.. and my selfish ways are deferred by comittment and love. You have a gift of words.

Congrats Emma. I am glad to hear that your first meeting went so well, and that the people involved are good people. Considering some have been in the group for so long, some of the people could end up being long time friends. Hopefully one day, your wife will decide to check out one of the meetings with you. Do you think there will be any unwanted, or not-yet-ready-for ripple affects from the restaurant manager recognizing you and seeing you the group? -Michael

Personally, I like the word. It's six letters. It's short and to the point. I dont have to go into great detail about top surgery, addadicktome's, Testosterone or why after four years I am as gorgeous (though still hairless) as I am ever going to get. Sticks and stones will break my bones.. helllllll yes they will. Call me a tranny anyday, but keep the actual physical assault weapons away from me. Besides..... no one can hurt your feelings unless you give them permission and power to. Tranny I can deal with..

Michael, I always appreciate your thoughts. Please allow me to try to shed some light into what I was meaning. I don't know if I can but I will try. My point is this: regardless of from where ones preference or comfort is derived it is valid in and of itself. As an example, my sexual preference is for women. I don't know if that is coming from my biology or sociology. It just is, at least for now. Individuals such as my friend have their own comfort zones, which need to be respected and appreciated if I am to hope that she will be able to open up to me or us. That said, I agree that societal views must also be addressed. But societies are made up of individuals who need to be won over individually by our examples of friendly, healthy, contributions to society.

I really don't think you have anything to be embarrassed about. The friend that pointed out that it's all about her preference, comfort and desires is, in my opinion, speaking honestly, but her honesty was honed by what's accepted/not accepted by current society. She doesn't know any better. I truly believe it all boils down to what people are programmed to believe and accept. We live in a world where, for the most part, only two sexes are recognized. Therefore, only two genders are recognized. And consequently, gender must match sex. But if the binary theory were to stop being crammed down peoples' throats from the day they were born, and people accepted and recognized that any variation and combination of sexes and genders are possible and normal, when a person's gender discord or variance came to light, it would be looked upon as just another change in one's life that simply needs incorporating into any relationship, whether familial, intimate or social. Hence, "no big deal." P.S. Bashing not allowed.