So, having hit my one year full time mark continues to be one of the biggest non-events of my life. You build things up in your mind, and then...pfffft!
But, two interesting things did happen to day. First, a bit of background. I'm taking a holiday with a friend in the last full week of May, to Vancouver. This will combine some much needed time away from my life all too ordinary here in the mountains with my debut in the Faux Girls Show at the Odyssey nightclub, which is the largest alternative lifestyles nightspot in western Canada (that I know of, at least), on May 26th. I hope I'm over my stage fright after doing three shows in less than 24 hours back on April 18th, including one "suicide squeeze" [1].
The young friend I'm driving to Vancouver with has promised me that we'll go swimming at Vancouver's famous sea wall. Now, I love swimming, but I haven't gotten wet since I began transition, for any number of reasons...1) unlady-like muscular shoulders from my days as a bodybuilder...2) a terrible tuck...3) no opportunities (there are no lakes that don't do double duty as swamps hereabouts)...so I'm looking forward to it. In preparation for this excursion, I went looking for a pair of board shorts today, so that my abysmal tuck won't be a factor and I can enjoy my day at the beach.
This would also be the first time I've been swim-suit shopping as a woman, and not some charismatic [2] cross-dresser. I was very pleasantly surprised by the customer service I got...color advice, encouragement to use the fitting rooms, help bargain shopping, you name it. A hurdle has been passed.
The other bit of fun is in regards to my driver's license. My license is up for renewal in about a month's time. Naturally, of course, as my major piece of picture ID, I'm rather looking forward to having some sort of visual testament to where I'm at in my life, and my transition. Where exactly is that? Well, due to cowardice and the wonderfully lethargic pace of the Canadian government bureaucracy, I haven't legally changed my name yet.
See, I need a period of time of about six weeks in length, when I won't need to use my passport. As soon as my name is legally changed, it's no longer valid ID, and I can't cross the Canada-US international border. I perform in drag shows in Spokane, Washington, roughly every month, so I need my passport every month or so, and I can't get it changed until I have my new birth certificate. It will take longer than six weeks to submit my name-change forms, get my new birth certificate, and then send it right back out as the required ID for a new passport.
So, I'll be renewing my license without having legally changed my name. This could be interesting, because, even without any make-up or jewelry (and what bombshell would be caught dead without wearing either, I ask you?), I don't look anything like my old self-anymore (no matter what me mum says), but my DL will have to have my old name on it.
I'll keep y'all posted on how this odyssey plays out...
[1] The "suicide squeeze" being when you have no idea what music you're performing to until you're on stage and hear it start. Very nerve wracking.
[2] Charisma is very helpful to a smooth transition...make the punters love ya and they'll actually help you transition.
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