Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Friday, September 21, 2007

Back on Line

Hi all, just a quick note to let you all know that I've finally gotten my new computer (which my son built for me) and I just love. I've made the move to Bellingham, WA and am in the process of acclimating to the colder weather. More on everything – stay tuned. R

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

'Trans'-forming Corporate America

The Fortune 500 companies are starting to understand and support transgenders in their workplaces. Here's the link to the CNN Money article:
http://money.cnn.com/2007/07/23/magazines/fortune/transgender_workplace.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2007072405. R

Monday, July 02, 2007

How To Treat A Trans Person

The following is taken from WikiHow; here's the link: http://www.wikihow.com/Respect-a-Trans-Person



How to Respect a Trans Person
This wikiHow was made for those who have recently learned of a transgendered person in their lives, and are unsure of how to act around them without offending or hurting their feelings. The term "transgendered person" in this article means a person born into the body opposite of the gender they feel they truly are. (In simple terms, men trapped in women's bodies, and women trapped in men's bodies.) This condition is known as Gender Dysphoria and shouldn't be confused with transgender as transgender includes crossdressing and other issues, which don't necessarily mean that they feel trapped in their bodies.

Steps
Thank them. It is very hard to come out to people as transgendered. They trust and/or respect you very much to have come out to you. Thank them for trusting you; it will mean a lot to them, because YOU mean a lot to them.


Respect their gender identity. Think of them as the gender they refer to themselves as and refer to them with their chosen name and gender pronoun (regardless of their physical appearance) from now on. (Unless they are not out, or tell you otherwise. Ask to be sure if or when there are times it is not okay.)


Watch your past tense. When talking of the past don't use phrases like "when you were a previous gender", because to them they have always been the gender they have come out to you as, but had to hide it for whatever reasons. If you have to use this, say "before you came out as current gender."


Use the proper terms. Use words for their proper gender, not the one they were. If they were born male (MtF - male-to-female), use feminine words like she, her, actress, waitress, etc. If they were born female (FtM - female-to-male), use masculine terms like he, his, etc. (Unless they say otherwise.)


Don't be afraid to ask. If you have a question that isn't too personal (based upon what type of person they are and the relationship you share), ask them. They will be happy to answer most questions, and glad you are taking an interest in their life.


Respect their need for privacy. Do not out them. Telling people you are transgendered is a very difficult decision, not made lightly. "Outing" them without their permission is a betrayal of trust and could possibly cost you your relationship with them. It may also put them at risk, depending on the situation, of losing a lot - or even being harmed. They will tell who they want, if or when they are ready.


Recognize the difference between gender identity and sexuality. Do not assume that their gender has anything to do with sexuality. It doesn't. Their sexuality is the exact same and has nothing at all to do with their gender identity. Terms may change, but that is it. To clarify: A transman who identified as straight before will now identify as gay; a transwoman who was straight will be a lesbian. A transman who was lesbian is now straight; and a transwoman who was gay is now straight. Bisexuals will remain the same. The sexual preference does not change, only the term in relation to their gender.


Treat them the same. While they may appreciate your extra attention to them, they don't particularly appreciate you making a big deal about them. After you are well-informed, make sure you're not going overboard. Transgendered people essentially have the same personalities as you and I. Treat them as you would someone "normal".

Tips
If the person was born a man, she is a transwoman, MtF, or simply a female/woman. If the person was born a woman, he is a transman, FtM, or simply a male/man.


Asking about peoples' genitals and how they have sex is not appropriate; in the same way asking cisgendered (non-trans) people how they have sex is not appropriate.


Everyone is different and most transgendered people will be glad to answer any questions - but if they are uncomfortable answering, or don't want to, then let it go. If you need to know, use the resources below.


Not all transgendered people get a sex change (SRS, or Sexual Reassignment Surgery), so don't automatically think that is the plan.


If you slip up early on and say "she" or "he" when you meant the other, don't apologize too much, just follow the mistake with the right term and continue what you were saying.


There is no "cure" for being transgendered, except to correct the physical appearance to match the mental gender identity. There is a problem with the body, not the mind.


Websites like PlanetOut or MySpace have transgender groups, or other sections for transgendered people; go to them to talk to people or learn more.

Warnings
Do not call their transsexuality or transgenderedness a "choice". It is not. The only choice is to try to ignore it and be miserable, or accept it and make any changes that feel necessary to live a happier life.


Do not call a non-transgendered person a "real" girl/boy etc. What makes a man a "real" man or a woman a "real" woman is their mind/brain, not their body. A transman is no less a real man and a transwoman is no less a real woman; the ONLY difference is that their body does not match their gender. That's it. A good word to use when referring to non-transgendered people is "cisgendered", or non-trans.


NEVER tell them that people will not understand or love them because they were not born the right gender outside. It hurts very badly, and is not true. Many transgendered people are understood, accepted and loved.

Related wikiHows
How to Come Out As a Gay or Lesbian Teen
How to Come to Terms With Being Transgender As a Teen
How to Have Respect for Yourself
How to Observe the Day of Silence
How to Be Respectful of Your Family

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Courts Are Getting It! From Australia

My friend Zoe provided this clip from a recent Australian court decision regarding the biology of transsexuals:



Re Kevin – Significant findings of Justice Richard Chisholm in respect of the expert medical evidence in that case as to the causation of transsexualism and as strongly affirmed by the Full Court on appealAt paragraph [270]: ‘But I am satisfied that the evidence now is inconsistent with the distinction formerly drawn between biological factors, meaning genitals, chromosomes and gonads, and merely "psychological factors", and on this basis distinguishing between cases of inter-sex (incongruities among biological factors) and transsexualism (incongruities between biology and psychology)’.At paragraph [272]: ‘In my view the evidence demonstrates (at least on the balance of probabilities) that the characteristics of transsexuals are as much “biological” as those of people thought of as inter-sex’.

A quote that gets it

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful then the risk it took to blossom." Anais Nin

Monday, June 04, 2007

Jenny Boylan Speech Excerpt




Here's an excerpt from a Jenny Boylan speech; feel the heartache, agony, love, caring and humanity:
"...Or how about this: I'm in my late twenties and I have finally fallen in love with an amazing woman named Grace. My whole long life, I have been praying and praying that someone would fall in love with me, because if someone falls in love with me, I will finally get outside of myself, I will finally be cured of this crazy thing I have. And to my amazement, Grace is in love with me. We drove all the way from Louisville Kentucky to Washington DC one day, and we kissed at every stop light on the way. And I feel transformed and healed, and when I get back to my own apartment in Baltimore, I go to the closet and I gather everything up in a big plastic bag. The wigs. The clothes. The bobby pins. The copies of Allure and Vogue and the balloons that I filled with tap water for breast forms and the shoes in size twelve I had to send away for to Lee's Mardi Gras Boutique, and the heavy pancake makeup and the purple eyeliner and the clip on earrings. And into the trash they went, and I went outside and put the bag by the curb and I stood there beneath the full moon, and I thought, yes, yes, yes, at last I am free! I'll never need to be a woman again!
Does this sound familiar?

Well, this last story probably won't sound familiar to most of you, but it happened to me. Fourteen years after I threw that bag of stuff out in the trash, I was waking up in Neenah Wisconsin, with the body I'd always prayed for. In one hand I clasped a little Demerol drip, so that whenever I felt the slightest bit uncomfortable, I went DING, and all my problems went away. I spent a week or two in bed, high as a kite, saying, I'm So Happy! And I'm trying to be entertaining to the people that surrounded me, starting to tell a joke and then falling asleep in the middle of the punchline.
But get this: at my side on that occasion were three people: including Grace, the woman I'd married all those years ago, the woman to whom I'm still married, the woman who at one point said, this is not what I wanted out of a marraiage, I feel totally gypped out of my husband, it's just not fair, but who at another point said, I would never turn my back on the person I love, ever. And so Grace sat by my side and held my hand. And I said to her, Sing me a song?


And she sang me this song:
(singing)
Do you think I could leave you crying?When there's room on my horse for two? Come up here Jack, quit your crying.We'll mend up your horse with glue.When we grow up we'll be soldiers, And our horses will not be toys.Maybe then we'll remember, When we were two little boys.
And next to Grace was my friend Rick Russo, a writer from Maine, and my closest friend. And next to Rick, was the cartoonist Timothy Kreider, who, after Grace and Rick headed back to the east coast, hung out with me day after day, watching Buster keaton movies and reading me, from cover to cover, The Princess Bride.


I can tell you that I never had a girlhood. I never had the experience of my father sitting next to me, reading his daughter a good night story. I never had that, and I never will. But when I was forty one, I had Tim Kreider, my dear friend, read me the Princess Bride, chapter after chapter. Hello My name is Inidgo Montoya. (get crowd to say the next two lines, in unison.) You keel my father. Prepare to die.


Okay. So those are some of my stories. What we need now, in the years to come, are some of yours. Each of us embodies our gender difference in a different way, and what we all need are more stories, more opportunities to learn from each other exactly how many different ways there are to live this life... "

Another Favorite of Mine





Several years ago, I read Jenny's book "She's not There" just when I was really grappling with where I fit on the gender spectrum. Although I couldn't say the words outloud then, (overwhelming cultural imprinting), I "knew" in my heart of hearts I was a transsexual. Thank you Jenny for your superb writing and story. R










Here's the link to her website: http://www.colby.edu/personal/j/jfboylan/

Friday, June 01, 2007

Check out the kind of company I keep.





Here's a link to the kind of transgendered/transsexual people I seek out and admire. Be sure to read a little of her scientific/engineering accomplishments. Some this computer stuff we take for granted, is a result of her pioneering research/application. Hugs, R http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/conway.html

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Follow Your Heart

The following are a couple of signature tags I lifted from a forum I participate in; they so resonated with me that I wanted to share them. R

"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door...
You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet,
There is no knowing where you might be swept off to."
-Bilbo Baggins-

"Follow your heart
No matter where it takes you.
Do not question it.
It will lead you to places
Where you've never been before."

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

A Poem by Melody

I came across this poem; it speaks so directly about things in my own heart; it is me. It is a beautiful, creative piece. Here's Melody: "I wrote this some time ago.. I thought some might enjoy it - Melody"

Lost somewhere in a splice
Sugar and spice and everything nice
I can feel her
And I'm searching.


I see examples of how I feel
And I observe
I feel trapped in my demeanor
And I deserve
To be me.

I'm looking for a girl
A little lost girl
I'm looking in the mirror
I'm looking for me.

I lift my head up from uneasy pillows
My face of lies is awakening
The face I feel
Is not the face I see
For my life is still in the making.

I can begin to see her
Beneath the facade and the shroud
It makes a difference
It's time to be found.

I'm looking for a girl
A little lost girl
I'm looking in the mirror
I'm looking for me.

Melody

"Wiki" Link for Transsexualism


Hi, I just wanted to provide a link that gives the basics for transsexualism. From personal experience, I guarantee that to find one's self a transsexual is not a choice; I fought, denied and repressed my transsexualism (becuse of USA culteral imprinting)for almost 60 years - I only wished that my will and self-disciplne had not been so great - and that the internet had been available. I would not wish the agonies of my journey on anyone. Perhaps one day, those who are born this way, will be openly understood and accepted for the plain and simple human beings that we are: we are just just like you. The link is provided for info and education. Hugs, R

Here's the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transsexual

Sunday, May 27, 2007

"The Cat out of the Bag"

Here's the photo that inspired the name of this blog. It is the pic at the top of a grocery list pad. Rae Ellen gave it to me as a kind of gag thing when it became clear I was going to transtion and was starting to tell others about my plans.
So Cute! R

Thursday, May 24, 2007

For persons wondering why we transition?

"True, but for me, the pain of the fire was less than the pain of not being who I was meant to be. If the pain of fire/transition were greater - who would transition? I think(opinion) everyone begins with a large dose of 'hope' (R agrees). We 'hope' that our entire family and all our friends will welcome our transition with open arms. It's a little unrealistic perhaps, but I wonder if a person were certain that they would loose all friends and family, would they still take the plunge...would they still choose to walk through fire? (ponder, ponder...think, think, think...) I know that for me - in looking back at how I felt, how much emotional pain I felt - I still would have transitioned even if I was certain I'd loose everyone important to me. For me, it was like a choice of the lesser of two evils. It hurt less to become myself, than go on living a lie as somebody I knew I wasn't."

These are the words of a woman posted on the transsexual community boards I participate in. They express precisely and concisely how I feel about transitioning - they could be my words exactly. Here's the link: http://beginninglife.com You'll not be able to access the registered inside boards, unless you've registered as a TS person; however, you will be able to get the drift of a lot of persons who eventually become members. R

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Male/Female Brain Differentiation


















Here's a copy from a post: http://aebrain.blogspot.com/search/label/Science. Zoe is a leading rocket scientist in Australia, and a fellow T-girl - we stay connected thru the net. She's another example of the kind of gals I like to hang out with. Sorry, the links aren't active (I don't know how to do that yet), so you'll have to copy and paste if you choose to follow any. Enjoy:

Friday, May 18, 2007
A Reply from a guy I used to know

Over at LGF, a reply by a guy I used to know. Or be. I've quoted it (slightly edited) because it's typical of the questions I get asked, and the answers I give, in comments in many places. It's useful for me to have the URLs of the scientific articles handy. He asks,

"I'm curious---how is a "male" brain different from a "female" brain, and how can doctors tell this? (Especially since brains are not easily examined from outside?)".
Easy, you cut people up during Autopsies. Zhou J.-N, Hofman M.A, Gooren L.J, Swaab D.F (1997)A Sex Difference in the Human Brain and its Relation to Transsexuality. (PDF) See alsoKruijver F.P.M, Zhou J.-N, Pool C.W., Swaab D.F. (2000) Male-to-Female Transsexuals Have Female Neuron Numbers in a Limbic Nucleus (PDF). I mean we have it pounded into us, over and over, that there are no real differences between males and females. Well, who are you going to believe, Post Modernist Gender Studies Professors who know nothing of biology, or Dynamic MRI Images? Hamann S, Herman R.A, Nolan C.L, & Wallen K. (2004)Men and women differ in amygdala response to visual sexual stimuli (PDF) Of course say that in public, and even presidents of Harvard can get fired for political incorrectness. As I understand it, sex is determined very early on during gestation, by one's DNA. DNA don't lie. And thus there are no children born with cleft palates, nor heart defects, the Thalidomide kids did not exist because the DNA don't lie...(tongue in cheek) The DNA is a plan, like an architect's drawing or a blueprint. But things can go awry during construction. Thalidomide caused terrible defects in development of limbs. DiEthylStilbestrol (DES) caused 1 in 5 male children to have feminine brains. But kids are born with such problems randomly anyway. From the Benjamin's Syndrome Info site (see TS Stuff link list to left):
The embryo's DNA is essentially the blueprint from which it knows how to develop. This blueprint contains much more information than the embryo will actually use. Genetic abnormalities can cause errors in the parts of the blueprint that the embryo is using, or tell it to use the wrong parts of the blueprint. So some parts of the body might not know they're supposed to make certain changes when they're exposed to testosterone, for example. Also, the presence of various hormones at various stages during the embryo's development helps regulate which parts of the blueprint are followed. If the wrong hormones are introduced at critical times (eg by the mother taking pills), or something prevents the right hormones from being present, the embryo will not develop as expected. Abnormalities in sexual differentiation as a group are known as Intersexuality. Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) is a good example. Embryos with Total AIS do not recognise testosterone, so their external genitalia is female. However, they are affected normally by AMH, so if they have XY chromosomes they will not develop female internal organs (eg the uterus).Benjamin's Syndrome is a form of intersexuality in which the brain of a person with XY chromosomes fails to masculinise for some reason, or the brain of a person with XX chromosomes does masculinise (there may be many ways in which this can happen). It is often (but by no means always) accompanied by other signs of mild atypical sexual differentiation, eg a particularly large clitoris or small penis, unusually pronounced proto-labial seam, late or minimal puberty, etc. It can also coexist with other types of intersexuality, though if another kind of intersexuality is present then an additional diagnosis of Benjamin's Syndrome would generally be considered superfluous.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

My Kids and Ex- Wife Colleen Are Reading This Blog - Woohoo!


This is a very good thing. It means that there is communication of sorts taking place, which is a definite improvement over the prior situation - no communication. It is so important for all of us to be able to discuss really important things within a family, without judgement and in love; I sincerely trust this is the case now.

I understand how huge the "loss" of a parent is within the transsexual paradigm to the children and spouse; but the "real" person is still there and it is only the cultural imprinting that makes the adjustment so terribly difficult. I am quite sensitive to that difficulty and only wish to keep an open dialoge with my family that is intended towards acceptance and understanding, based on God's love and forgiveness. This space is always open to the comments of any family member; and especially my kids. My only request is that any remarks are within these "Jesus parameters": love your neighbor as yourself, judge not that you might not be judged and "...wanna cast the first stone?" Hugs, R

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Inky



This is one of my two cats, Inky. He's sitting on the porch railing at my old place. The backdrop is the British Virgin Islands. This cat is uber active and always hunting and scrapping. But he sleeps on the pillow next to me most nights and sometimes drapes himself around the top of my head. I love him. R

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Remembering Joshua


On May 10, 2003, My son Joshua Nathaniel Lee died by the accidental discharge of a handgun. He was preparing to go bear hunting with his friends near Bigfork, MT, where he was raised and now rests. He was such a good son and I simply want to remember him on this anniversary. I'm not sure what he'd think about my being a TS, but Id like to suppose he'd be accepting. Josh I love you, miss you and am so proud of the way you lived your life - you were just the best. Be seein' ya before ya know it. Love and hugs, Rebekah

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

My Meltdown w/Epilogue

Meltdown


Back story:
About two months ago (@Feb'06) during a morning walk I became very aware of the presence of something large overtaking me from behind. This all takes place in my mind of course. I wasn’t sure for a while what it was, but it didn’t go away; and after several days it seemed to me to be either a large boulder or a huge black cylinder – much larger that I am; it could easily crush me. My awareness of it would go away when I was occupied, but whenever I relaxed it would be there. I didn’t feel particularly threatened, but I knew I must figure out what it was doing there. Don’t ask me why, but I intuitively knew that it was connected to being transgendered and Rebekah.

As the days passed, the scene slowly evolved and became the edge of a tall cliff; I didn’t see myself in that scene, but I knew I was at the edge and the big thing was coming behind me. Some days went by and the scene evolved again; now there was a ledge cut into the face of the cliff. The ledge is about six or eight feet wide and about four feet deep. The side and back walls are perfectly vertical and go straight up to the top of the cliff. I still didn’t see myself on the ledge, but I knew I was on the ledge. I wasn’t sure how the thing behind me had turned into the back wall, but it had. I also knew somehow that that back wall had pushed me to the ledge. My overall feelings were ones of unease, knowing something needs attention; but that things were going to get worked out.

I talked about this scene with my therapist here and said I was sure it had something to do with my transgenderness and the increasingly intense desire to transition. We came to no meaningful conclusions about it, but decided I needed to seek a gender therapist. That last ledge scene followed me around for the next weeks and nothing more changed about it. I began to realize that the back wall was going to move and force me to jump; I’ve never seen the bottom below, but my feeling is I am not able to see that far. Time passes and I realize that when I jump I’ll actually be able to fly, but that I don’t know how yet. Time passes and I understand that someone will help me learn how to do that; this brings a measure of peace. I also came to understand that the jumping and flying is the transition – it is something that I “just knew”. I am able to find a gender therapist that feels comfortable to me and fits my situation – Dr. B.

The day before my first appointment with Dr. B. (spring of ’06), I saw my therapist here and we talked about all this, again with no real conclusions, other than it looked like I was headed for transition. It was a really positive session. The next day I talked with Dr. B.; I felt that was a positive session and had a sense of well being, progress and peacefulness. This was reinforced when a woman who I’d met at a blues festival here about a month ago walked into the shop; I was really surprised because I present pretty femininely and would not have been surprised it she never showed up again. We’d gotten along really well and she’d called several times to keep in touch. We had lunch and chatted. I knew I must tell her that I am transgendered and considering transition. I expected that to send her away for good. Instead (after a very long pause and some prompting from me) she said that she was probably a lesbian and had been in a female relationship before. She said she was attracted to me because of how I present and “felt” to her. You can imagine how pleased I was. I walked her to the ferry and we agreed to see each other again. Nice! I went to bed that night feeling very good.
(Note: After my session with Dr. B., I had this scene: I am standing outside the front gate at the walk leading up to a small wood frame house with a front porch; just a cute little house. I knew right away that this is where I am going to live the rest of my life and that I was supposed to have moved here a long time ago. I was finally coming home. This scene remains and has everything to do with my transition.)

The Meltdown:
The next morning I got up and as usual was drinking my coffee on my porch and meditating, thinking and just enjoying the beginning of the day. At some point the ever available ledge scene pops into my mind. I always looked at it from slightly above and to the left of the ledge. It was empty as usual. I had the thought that perhaps the back wouldn’t move and I had the choice of staying in that miserably confined space or jumping. I started to reflect on the flying part and realized that Dr. B. was going to teach me how to do the flying. It felt like the last piece of a puzzle falling into place and I started to cry a little. I was looking at the ledge. I then understood (in a very deep and profound way) the only way that I had gotten there was through the heroic efforts of Tom and I became very grateful for all that he’d done and been and how little he’d ever understood. It was a huge moment. My crying increased; but it was good, cathartic and acknowledging. I decided that I was either going to have to sketch that ledge or have some one do it for me,

As I turned the sketch idea over in my mind I suddenly saw for the first time that there was a figure on the ledge. It was Tom. As I watched, suddenly Tom was standing there holding Rebekah in his arms (as one does when carrying someone someplace). They were stick figures; Rebekah had a triangle dress on. I felt with such intensity the enormous effort that Tom had made to get there; I also realized the back wall represented the closing of Tom’s history. He’d just slogged along his entire life down in that channel and that channel was now gone and his work was done. All that remained was the ledge.

I was just bawling at this point. My hands started waving around a little and I kept saying “Tom just can’t do this anymore; I can’t go on” etc. My emotions were incredibly intense and I was feeling like I might explode or something. As I watched the ledge I saw Tom put Rebekah down and then he lay down and I knew he was dying; he could go no further; his work was done. (As I write this now, I can hardly stand it, the emotions are so strong.) I was sobbing uncontrollably at this point and waving my arms up down in little short, quick motions. I was starting to feel like I might lose control of myself somehow. I also understood that after Rebekah left, the ledge would seal up and be gone.

As I said before, I’d always just looked at the ledge from outside of it. As I watched the scene, I sensed Tom’s spirit departing and as I understood that, the next thing I knew I was on the ledge. And I was inside Rebekah looking at Tom laying there. Something compelled me to turn around and I started to turn around and face outward. I was terribly frightened and knew it wasn’t time to fly yet, but somehow I had to face it. At that point the scene washes to white (I never did see out) and I just went sort of crazy. I was shaking and trembling all over; I was so weak I could barely sit up in my chair and walking was not possible. It started to feel like I might lose my grip on reality. I began to realize I might need some help. My feet and hands were getting numb and I didn’t understand what was happening. I then thought maybe I should write an email to Dr. B. and maybe he might be able to call me later in the morning after I got to work. (I am clueless as to how I thought I could get to work or hang on until he maybe called.) It took maybe another ten minutes to get it together enough to get to my computer; I could barely walk, I was shaking like a leaf, numb all over, dizzy and like sort of a buzzing in my brain, all the while just sobbing. I got the computer going and managed a sentence and a half and then I just lost it all over again (never having regained much ground anyway). I realized I needed help right now, couldn’t wait; I felt like I was just going to lose touch with myself and pass out. I felt that if I passed out I might not get back to myself again. So I called my therapist’s office number; it was a little after 7am and I knew she wouldn’t be there, but I could get her cell number off the recording. It took five or six times to get the number right. Then it was her fax machine that picked up. My sobs were huge and I kept saying, goddammit and what the fuck over and over again. Two more tries and the phone rings. She picks up. Unbelievable! (God knew) I’ll say this, she surely is a pro; God I love her. We start talking and I manage to get myself to my bed, because I knew I needed to lie down or fall over. (As I write this last paragraph all the emotions returned, a little of the numbness and tingling with a lot of crying. This is Saturday and I haven’t gone over this since Thursday morning; yes that’s the morning.)

Well, we got it talked out; must have taken almost an hour. I hung up still feeling weak as a kitten, but at least under a semblance of control. I was empty, spent, drained and emotionally flat as a pancake. My brain felt like someone had grabbed my head and just shaken it into jello. After a couple of hours I somehow managed to get to my shop (why I thought I needed to do that, I’ll never know, looking back) – maybe the security of routine. Thank God business was abysmal and I didn’t have to deal with customers.

So that was it. The ledge is still there; I cannot look directly at it for now. I can’t take it somehow. On my way to the shop on Thursday, I “glanced” at it and it was covered in dark roiling clouds with a little lightening. I sense Tom is still lying there; I sense Rebekah is standing there frightened and trying to see past the storm that is raging there. I sense there is trouble there, but it seems more about me trying to go there and get things straightened out; it’s that I don’t have the emotional resources at the moment to deal with it. The dark clouds are still there today (Sat) - I can’t go there yet. Since that morning, I wouldn’t say I’ve been rock solid emotionally; I’m flat, still kind of empty and I’d say a little sad or melancholic – depressed doesn’t seem to fit. There is a slight pressure at my temples all the time and I’m carrying a moderate amount of tension in my neck and shoulders. I don’t focus and concentrate well; I’ve made some really thoughtless, rookie mistakes sewing. I can’t listen to the radio; quiet, melodic, blues seem to help.



This morning (Sat) without warning I came very close to having another “episode”. I was again having my coffee and Rebekah just came on and wanted out and just “to be”. I was getting the buzzy, shaky feeling again and knew there was no way I could go there. It had something to do with Rebekah coming out. I hugged my shoulders and told Rebekah I loved her and wouldn’t give up on her until she’s able to whole. That seemed helpful. Several weeks ago I decided that she needed a middle name. I worked through all the family females and the only possibility was my aunt. I put the question on the back burner to see how it felt over time. Well, in the middle of the hugging and talking it came to me that it’s time for the middle name (why then?). So I am now officially named Rebekah Jane Lee; a wholly named person. That seemed to satisfy something and I got it back together enough to write this little story. BTW, my aunt was a strong, intelligent creative woman, who I always loved and admired. I’ve also started to share some of this with my best girlfriends (not romantic) here, because I just can’t handle this by myself and there are no support groups on St. John. Thank God for my TS forum girls. Both groups are so loving and supportive. All I really know for now is I need some healing help/time; I need to begin my hrt and electro; this is not something I think – it’s something I know. And I need those flying lessons.
This too shall pass, Rebekah

EPILOGUE TO THE MELTDOWN

It is 3/27/07, a few minutes past 6am. I am walking a little past the Francis Bay Ruins parking area, I look up at the developing sunrise colors on the clouds and notice a large red-tailed hawk; it came from behind me and is flying east toward the sunrise. The lift isn’t good and he works a little searching for effortless, soaring flight. Within minutes, a pair of brown Pelicans floats past, working their way into the sunrise and a complimentary early morning a la carte breakfast – on the ocean.

I walk a couple more minutes and hear bird talk unfamiliar to me. I look around trying to locate the source and then, finally up. A smaller red-tailed hawk is doing a lot of chittering, interspersed with sharp piercing single note cries. Beating her wings quickly and powerfully to gain altitude, I listen and watch, wondering what all the chatter is about. She works hard, speaking continuously as she climbs and is soon in the Ajax ridge wave – soaring confidently on firm, uplifting air currents; totally silent now.

I say a silent thank you to God for sharing his beautiful birds with me and continue my walk. As I start up the approach to King Hill Road (@ ½ mile further), the scene of Rebekah and Tom on the ledge bursts clearly and instantly into my mind; completely unbidden. Then the image of the soaring hawks connects to me standing on the ledge of the original meltdown scene. I sense I am totally Rebekah and am now standing at the very edge of the cliff. The broad valley below stretches out in front of me. I am irresistibly and completely filled with the thought that it is time to fly. My mind’s eye returns to the hawks and I understand the cries of the second hawk are inviting me to step into space and join her. It is time to leave the ledge. It is time to soar. Glancing back at Tom (he’s still lying motionless on the ledge), I stretch out my wings, look out into the valley and step into space. It works; a little tentative and apprehensive, me wings find purchase and I work to catch the hawks. As I do, I know that it is only Rebekah now; Tom is no more.

I glance back at the cliff, to the ledge I’d just left, but the ledge isn’t there anymore. Tom isn’t there anymore. The cliff face is solid and sheer from top to bottom. There is no return. I am mildly anxious about being able to keep flying, but the hawk’s voice comes to me and tells me to keep beating my wings; that I will soon find the air currents that will allow me effortless soaring. I slowly realize I am alright; I begin to relax and slowly enjoy the flight. It washes back over me that it is only Rebekah now. It is very peaceful. Thank you!


REFLECTIONS
I have no idea where all that came from or exactly why, how or the timing – it just burst into me. It was just another morning walk. I hadn’t thought about the ledge scene or meltdown for sometime, but did always have some sense or awareness that it and the situation on it remained. I know this much for certain: 1) the hawks and the pelicans were no accident; 2) they were precursors to help set the stage for my departure from the ledge (I knew from the first time I saw myself on the ledge in the meltdown, that I was going to fly – there was no other option; it was just a question of when). 3) It means for sure that I’m Rebekah from now on; my old character identity and my attachment to it are laid to rest.

Thank you Tom for standing in all those years; you actually did a nice job; I love you and thank you for what you helped me through and to.

Monday, May 07, 2007

My Porch


I wanted to share the view from my little cottage porch; this is where I do all my meditating, coffee/wine drinking and eat most of my meals. I am just a very short walk from Fancis Bay, one of the nicest beaches on the island. R

I wanted to share the view from my little cottage porch; this is where I do all my meditating, coffee/wine drinking and eat most of my meals. I am just a very short walk from Fancis Bay, one of the nicest beaches on the island. R

Sunday, May 06, 2007

The Quantum Field

I've watched The Secret (the truth in a too glitzy package for me); I've watched the quantum version (THE ONE TO WATCH) of The Bleep - Down the Rabbit Hole and found it to absolutely entrancing. Then I listened to Deepak Chopra's The Seven Spiritual Laws and have been working on them intensively for about six weeks. What really caught me out was initially I intellectually assented to the truths in all of the presentations; but, on a re-listen to Chopra, I realized I wasn't practicing much or any of it at all. The bottom line for me is does it fit with the Bible? And all of this does - The Secret included. It's pretty amazing for me to say this, but it's true. And, I'm finding great personal benefit in my daily life and in the practice of meditation. I emphasize the word practice; I'm making progress, but it's not so simple to do as I thought when I started. R

Saturday, May 05, 2007

Glad to be back!

Hi all, sorry for the long silence, but the journey of a transsexual is not simple nor seldom straightforward. I'm back and with more insight and info about my journey - I'll be sharing. Please stay connected and let me know what you need to know or how my journey can help yours - whether it's GLBT or not. Hugs, R