the better to blend in) and boots. Slapped on some nice bronze-pink polish at the last moment. Up close it looked messy, but a distance it was probably OK. I was also giving my new Veronica 2 her first road test. I've decided Espy must like big butts (but it was fine after sending it back for some reshaping) and it does balance my broad shoulders nicely.I was ready to go out when I noticed someone painting the house across the street. Argh! Since my neighbor may have seen me en femme last weekend I didn't want to get spotted again. I could explain one time, but more than once is tough. Fortunately, it turned out to be a workman, so it didn't matter. But I timed my rush out to the car nicely and he didn't see me.
Drove up to San Francisco and pulled into a parking garage near the MAC on Union Street. The parking lot attendant didn't seem to bat an eye (just like others previously). I guess they've seen it all. Walked over to the MAC and got read a few times (mostly by GGs), but it was no big deal - mostly a flicker of their eyes. When I got to MAC I was the only customer there. The make-up artist didn't bat an eye
and sat me down for a make-over.While she was working on me, I asked if she'd done any other cross-dressers, she been working for MAC so done several, but it turns out they were all gay. She seemed quite surprised when I let her know cross-dressers are typically hetro, so I took the opportunity to do a bit more education about cross-dressing. Ironically enough, she mentioned that she'd once made over her boyfriend, who looked in the mirror, freaked out and made her swear never to tell anyone. Hmm. Methinks he liked it and couldn't deal with it.
While we were chatting, I mentioned that we cross-dressers didn't have the benefit of the years of practice that GGs said and she replied that I'd be surprised how many GGs don't have a clue about make-up. In trying to explain things to her, I mentioned that dressing is sort of akin to GGs getting dressed up for a special occasion, and that I'm sure I'd probably get tired of having to do make-up if I had to do it everyday. The make-up artist grinned and said on her days off she's so sick of make-u that she rarely wears any.
While the make-up artist was off getting something, I complimented another one of the artists on her flamboyantly red hair. She was a bit of character - had a number of tattoos. The makeover was awesome. I don't know that I looked like true GG (especially at 6-feet in heels), but I definitely looked plausible. As I was paying, the second make-up artist came up and introduced herself and wanted to know when I was coming back. I'd forgotten to take photos, so I asked her if she'd do it. She took one, then realized the flash would throw things off, so we went across the street out into the sun. Really sweet.
Thought about going to Macys, but it was really nice out and I was hungry, so I headed over to Pier 39, since I knew that with all the tourists I wouldn't be conspicuous having a late lunch. Walked around first, with sunglasses on, I was rarely read. Ended up getting a sandwich at Boudin's. The guy at the counter clearly read me (with sunglasses off), but tried hard to act cool. While I was eating, a pair of teenage GGs sat down at the table next to me. They couldn't stop sneaking peeks at me, until I caught their eyes and smiled back with that "I know that you know" smile. After that one of the girls was getting something out of her bag and commented about it - probably because she was facing me directly. I replied back that it always seemed like the thing you're looking for is at the bottom. As I was bussing my tray, I saw the camera flash go off behind me. Not sure if they were taking pictures of each other or whether I'll end up in someone's travel album.
Walked back to the garage and got back in the car to go to Macys. As I was paying to exit, the little old lady in the booth got briefly wide-eyed and then smiled. Got over to Union Square and went into Macys. Just ahead of me on the escalator was a butch-ish lesbian, who as it turned out was also headed to the women's department. (We didn't speak, but I ended up following her.) Two gender benders in a row... I didn't seem to elicit much of a reaction from the various GGs shopping there, mostly middle-aged women. Don't know if I passed, or if they just didn't care, since I looked nicely put together
A salesclerk helping another customer backed into me, and said "Excuse me, ma'am." Don't know if she was just being polite, but it was nice to get "ma'am"ed. I was looking at a wonderful black knit top with three-quarter shelves and band of abalone sequins sewn along the V-neck when another rather chatty salesclerk came up to me and introduced herself. She asked if I wanted to try it one, so she set me up with a with fitting room (so that I could browse and come back with other items.) The other women going in and out didn't seem to react. Did some more browsing and spotted an aubergine top with sequins around the neckline. A woman next to me commented that it was a really pretty color. I asked her whether she thought it worked with my skin-tone, and she thought it did, so I ended up getting that too. As I was checking out, the salesclerk was quite chatting, wanting to know how one of the tops fit (since she was thinking about getting it herself) and lamenting how she'd just pigged out on some chocolate cake last night to console herself over putting on some pounds. I cooed in sympathy and mentioned how I was trying to take off some pounds myself. It was the sort of easy conversation I've always envied among women. If she hadn't figured out earlier, in our conversation I'm sure she realized I was drag, but didn't bat an eye and treated me like a lady.
Walked around the department store for a bit and ended up going out through the cosmetics area on the ground floor. A lot of the counter girls smiled and said hi. One asked if I was having a wonderful day, I said I was. I'm sure they all read me, but they were very sweet all the same.
By this time a I was a dragging a bit (sorry...
), so I went to the café on Union Square. Again, I was treated graciously by the counterman and the barista. While I was waiting for my espresso, the owner came over and introduced himself, saying he hadn't seen me before and wanted to know if I worked nearby. Next headed over to Lane Bryant. It was over in the Mission and a bit smaller than the ones in my local malls, so I was a little disappointed by the selection - lots of polyester, which I'm trying to avoid. But I did find a cute black top with beading, which will be nice for clubbing. The clerks and the other women were really nice and I chatted with several of them. Again, it was that easy conversation that I've always envied. It wasn't any deeper than a bunch of guys talking about sports, but it was nice not to have that kind of sizing each other up that guys typically do when they first meet. (Maybe GGs do it too, but if so I wasn't picking up on it.)
After that it was time to head home and watch the Cal game on ESPN. I knew I'd get hungry and didn't want to take off my make-up to grab something to eat when I got back, so I walked over to a Jamba Juice to get a smoothie. And hallelujah, they had the restroom I'd needed for awhile. (Unfortunately, neither Pier 39 nor Macys had a single stall "family bathroom" and I wasn't quite brave enough to the regular women's room. (Given the number of tourists, I figured the odds were a lot higher one of the GGs might take offence.) Neither of the two girls working the counter seemed to bat an eye.
It was twilight when I got home and the street was empty, so pulled up into the driveway and quickly got into the house. (I gave my thanks again for the front hedge that screens most of the front yard and the front porch.) Turned on the TV and spend the rest of the evening cheering my team on en femme. Now where's that cheerleader outfit when I need it?
Anyway, sorry to write such a lengthy novel, but wanted to give folks a sense of what it's like to be out and about. Obviously San Francisco is one of the most t-friendly places around, so your mileage may vary. And going out in public is a very personal decision, so I definitely don't think people should pressured to do so if they feel it's not appropriate for their situation.
But for those who've been yearning to go out but haven't, I want to let them know that you don't have to be perfectly passable, just presentable. And if you act like you're doing something natural, you'll put people at ease. (Easier said than done, I know...) But think of it this way, if nothing else, you've given them a little excitement in their day. Sure they probably think I'm a very drab drag queen, but nonetheless they're seeing a guy in a dress so that's some building of tolerance and if it's appropriate I can do a little more education.
Likewise, act like you deserve respect. When I've had people stare, meeting their stare and smiling back at them let's them know they're being rude and usually they'll turn away. (I'm still waiting to use a great response I got from someone else -- walking up to the person and stating: "I can tell you're too shy to ask for my autograph, but I'm happy to sign something for you.")
Obviously, you do need to be careful of your safety -- if someone's mad-dogging you, or following you that's a different story and why I've been meaning to get some pepper-spray. But our fears are more often those of own imagination. As my sig says...
BTW, I'm planning to email all the stores involved and commend them on their staff's professionalism. Hopefully will encourage more of the same and also give a little boost to the individual salespeople I dealt with.
I think it was great that you acted like you belonged there too and that usually helps people with their fears. What I mean is people have this thing in them when they pick up on deception, danger, weirdness. Usually it's because a there's someone giving off that vibes and they pick up on it. That's the norm at least. I was also happy you dressed the part. I don't know if I'll ever go out in a dress. Slacks are just more comfy to me, but who knows. First I have to go out again, ya' know? 
