Its like therapy to tell your story

[Yvonne B]

I remember starting, I suppose like most trying on my mothers and sisters things at an early age.
But along with family expectations and defined gender roles it sort of gets shoved to one side so that you fit in.
And since its not the "norm" you try doing all the butch things, sport drinking and carousing to compensate.
I started work in the construction industry and used to have to work away at lot so the dressing got put off.

I did have a photo for along time (hidden away) that I took of myself in 1973 in bib and brace velour hot pants, jersey blouse, boots and ash blond tapered wig (god knows where I got them from), I did look good!

Got married had kids, my wife had terrible fashion sense, I used to buy the occasional things for her and wondered how they would look on me, and kept it all repressed. Got divorced, after she met Mr Right, and left with him till Mrs Right told him he could'nt go, and I did'nt want her back, got the kids, and and raised them till the last of them moved out a couple of months ago.
In the meantime I had discovered the internet and found there were a lot of others like me, would secretly look at Vicki Renes site each week and wish it was me on there.

Anyway with the youngest gone I thought let's have shot, went to the local mall and bought some clothes and make up etc (saying I wanted to buy something nice for the partner etc etc). and presto Yvonne was born ( My mother says thats what I would have been called if I had been born a girl)

My only problems (only) I'm 50, overweight, but loosing kilos rapidly since the youngest left, but the ravages of being outside have left there mark, enough wrinkles that my face looks like a relief map of the Alps. also I'm a lot hairer than I'd like to be (and its bloody hard to shave your back when your on your own.)

I'm waiting some stuff I bought on ebay and a couple of videos on how to do make up, which is the thing I find hardest at this time, I either look like a bloke in dress or a very old and ugly and over made prostitute.
I can do the clothes, figure and boobs bit.

What I'd really like is to have a makeover done, and learn some tricks and tips and what looks best on me, but I fear that may be out of the question in my part of the world (Adelaide) as I can't find anyone on the net or yellow pages.
I may go overseas on holiday in 08 or 09 and have a go in the UK or US

I don't really know what I going to do, whether I just dress for myself and take a few photos or try and go out and be passable (that would be fantastic to do) Time will tell.

Sorry for rambling on, its sort of like therapy to tell your story, that you have'nt been able to do before.
I figure I'm not alone in this experience. you could fill volumes but have to keep it short.

Thanks for the opportunity to bare the soul.

LOL Yvonne

[Absaroka]

Thanks Yvonne for your story. It's a good read.

As for the makeover, maybe try looking like a 50 year old woman who has spent much of her life outside, complete with wrinkles?

Absaroka

[Anita]

Hi Yvonne--
Yes, that's an interesting story for me. I see that you're just going ahead and doing it, learning on the job, and that's what I did, too. I was surprised at how much I knew just from watching my mother and my sisters when I was growing up.

[Tekla]

try
http://www.makeuptalk.com

- its a community, mostly girls, but a few trannies too, who are very into makeup.

The good news is that with the dollar falling to record low levels against other currencies your American Vacation is now easier to afford than ever. SF and LA are both setting new records for foreign tourism this year. And there are several places you can go in the Bay Area that specialize in trannies, like Carla - the tranny mechinic - in San Jose. But any MAC store will help you too.

[CJ]

Hi all,

That's a great little story, Yvonne. Thanks for sharing.

I totally agree with you that telling your story is a form of self-therapy. In a flight of fancy, I once referred to journaling or autobiographical writing as "letting my life bleed across the page, blue on white."

Writing down who we are, what we think and feel and believe--whether we mean for other eyes to see our words or not--is a way for us to take stock of our lives, on the one hand, and to make clearer to ourselves our own values, hopes, dreams, and desires, on the other. I think it's essential. Writing (amongst other creative activities) has saved my life more than once.

Many years ago now, when I was still in my early teens, my father told me that one of the best ways to become an emotionally well-balanced person is to regularly take stock of our own lives in order that any "attitude thruster adjustment" we may need to make would be minor. His suggestion was that, once or twice a year, we should find a great oak tree in a quiet park somewhere, sit underneath it, pull out a pen and a pad of paper (this was before the advent of portable PC's, natch!), and write out--in a poem, a story, an essay, whatever--the story of our heart. Let me tell you: it was one of the wisest pieces of advice my father ever gave me. It works well. A side-effect: this practice has instilled in me a lifelong love of writing. To this day, I write "because I must."

Anyway, now I'm rambling. Glad to have you aboard, Yvonne. Follow your bliss!

Love,
CJ

[DonnaT]

One would think, with the LGBT community of Adelaide, one would find some help with makeup and getting out to meet others.

For example, the Adelaide Happy Wanderers is a LGBTI social group that takes monthy walks. http://www.adam.com.au/kherbig/faq.htm

Also, if you can find a MAC cosmetic store nearby, you can schedule a makeover, usualy.

Have you seen the forum at http://chameleonswa.com/chameleons/forums/

[Virginia]

Hi Yvonne,

Yes therapy and it returns the benefits to us when we find that we are not alone, that there are others like us that have had similar experiences. Then to learn how they handled the various plights offered and if we see one coming that we have resources to fall back on to find a hopefully acceptable solution that can work in our particular situation, as well.

That is what we are about here, sharing, helping, empathizing with each other. Sharing our ups and downs, being happy for our sisters' successes and letting them know we are there to support them in their trials that may arise.

Hope you will stay, participate and share with us.

Virginia

[Stephanie W]

Hi Yvonne and welcome to the forum.

Hope you find something useful in the links provided by others. Try not to spend too much of your energies worrying about what you can't control and try to devote more time to what you CAN do to make yourself happier in your life. I'm sure things will begin to fall into place in time.

For now, why not try experimenting with makeup at home? The best place to start is to buy yourself an inexpensive makeup set and practice, practice, practice. A good book to help you along is one entitled, 'Making Faces, by Kevin Aucoin" It had a wealth of ideas in there and you can play around with different looks until you find some you like. Once you do, you'll be pleasantly surprised how much more confident you'll feel about yourself and that's always an important first step towards the next level, whatever that may be.

Anyway, I wish you the best of luck.

Stephanie

[Yvonne B]

Thanks girls
Your advice, links and support has been fantastic. Its been a great comfort to recieve so much feed back and help and to realise that I am not alone and there are so many generous ladies out there willing to help someone starting out and discovering themselves.

I can't thank you enough, and I hope to participate more in the forums in the future.

PS I just recieved the Joann Roberts, Art and Illusion book and DVD today, so expect some pics soon with a few different looks

Love Yvonne

[JoAnnDallas]

Posting your story here is cheaper than going to therapy. LOL Fourms like this one are a form of therapy. Look at this way, you go to a shrink and tell him the same story. He/She will listen, might give the same advise some of the girls here will give you, and then charge you $100-$200 USD for that hour.

[Virginia]

I thought that is what we charged! Flat rate of $200.00 per hour??

What's the matter, JoAnn, did you not get your check??

Love ya, dear!

Virginia

[SilverLady(SO)]

I thought that is what we charged! Flat rate of $200.00 per hour??

Hee hee! JoAnn's check is "in the mail" . . . along with everyone else's . . . including mine!!

Oh, if only that were really true! ::sigh::

*Hugs*

- SL