Well it has taken me about a month to get the meet organised. Thankfully, I managed to get in contact with a member of the group and she took me under her wing and promised to meet me at the door.
So once the meet was organised I had the best part of a month to gradually send myself completely crazy!
I'm sure they'll all look like they've stepped out of Miss Thailand! - And I look like a pig in Lipstick!
How am I going to speak to them - I've never really had to sustain a feminine voice for any length of time!
OMG - how am I going to handle meeting a bloke in a dress! I've never done that before!
What if I get stopped by the police on the motorway!
...to name but a few of the thoughts rattling around in my head!
So I was nicely cranked up on the evening in question! Especially since I had to get dressed in a layby en route! Other than that, the trip was uneventful! I checked the mirror when I got there and had to redo some of my makeup since I realised that it looked as if it had been applied with my feet! But then I was ready!
At this point, my friend pops her head out of the front door and I make my introductions. Then we're inside and more introductions! Everybody is lovely! They couldn't be more welcoming! Then we're making a cup of Tea and I'm being asked by a natural born girl (SO) where I bought my dress as she really likes it (Hey Toto - I don't think we're in Kansas anymore!).
All that neurotic rubbish rolls over and just sinks! It was amazing! I met some lovely people of all ages (well - 40+), swapped tips, talked about transitioning, discovered some local events, and even made some good local contacts - one of which owns a clothes warehouse (She shoots!, she scores!, the crowd go wild! Yeahhhhh!).
I kept to using a feminine voice. To begin with I was a little tentative and so people were having difficulty hearing me - but once I turned the volume up, this seemed fine! I think I will continue to do this even though some of the others at the group don't feel the need. It'll give me somewhere to practice. I chatted for about three hours and could have easily done another three. No sore throat or anything!
For the next meeting, my friend offered me the opportunity of changing at her house and then we can both travel in together. So no laybys - which is a real improvement / safer!
So that's it really! It was an absolute joy and I can't wait to get to the next meeting!
Hugs Ginny x
