Seven years... That's about 1/8th of my life I've been a registered member of this community. Wow. (Though, I started reading hear a few months previous, I was one of many "guest readers"...)

I started writing, registered and posted my first attempts at writing here when so encouraged by Karen Page and Angharad. And, wonder of wonders, I discovered I actually enjoyed writing. This was quite a surprise to me as I'd not voluntarily written ANYTHING since '71 when some classmates destroyed a play I wrote. (So, I assumed I couldn't do it... Write that is.)

Folks here have been quite nice in their complements on my initial story (Who Was I) and my subsequent efforts. (Though, I got the most comments/kudos on one of my last two posts... So, I guess waiting 2+ years between posts is how I get good responses. Sorry I'm so slow, life intrudes... More on that, later.) It's been fun. I've even gone so far as to write some non TG fiction, one piece I even submitted to a contest (it didn't go anywhere, of course. LOL).

But, what's happened in the past few years? When I first created my account here, I KNEW I'd never transition. I was not happy, but I was "happily" married with two kids (one in college, one in middle school). Less than a year after signing up though - I told my wife I was transgender... And things have gone on from there. I transitioned two and a half years ago and am STILL married (33 1/2 years and counting!) with two wonderful kids (who are a tad older now). Sadly, health has been an issue all around. Shortly after transitioning, my leukemia flared up (six months of chemo later I was, and continue, to be in remission). In parallel, both kids are dealing with pain issues (the older one with Rheumatoid Arthritis, the younger with Fibromyalgia triggered by lyme disease) and now my wife's type II diabetes goes crazy... It doesn't just rain, it pours!

I've had my letters for my surgery for a year. I have insurance... Only, only one doc I can find will take it, and her waiting list is 16 months... And, insurance authorization is only good for 12... To make matters worse, they cancel your date when the authorization expires and you have to start over. (There's a newer surgeon, who'll take insurance, but despite being an experienced plastic surgeon, none of the hospitals in the state will let him perform the operation because he's not a urologist.... ARGH. So, he built his own stand-alone surgical center... And, is waiting for the "random inspection" to get it licensed... Whenever that is done, maybe... (I can hope I'm healthy enough by then)...

Work continues without stop, and I'm apparently quite in demand for my expertise. Guess that's a good thing. LOL

I even started graduate school this fall. But, now I have to decide whether to continue or not. Given how much time it took, and family health issues, I am coming to the conclusion I can't afford the time. *sighs* At least for now. We'll see. Something to discuss with the wife over the holidays... Since it impacts the whole family, and now we know how much time it takes up.

The past year, I've also replaced 14 of the original windows (old single pane double hung windows) with modern vinyl replacement windows. The videos claim it takes an hour to do the job. They LIE! It's more like 3-4 hours per window! Still more projects on the house... Isn't that always the case!

The world is a circus, and sometimes it feels like they've put the family in center circle. LOL

I've really enjoyed my reading here (lately, mostly just Angharad's stories and Maddy Bell's. But once in a while I find time to read another by various authors.)... I just wish there were more hours in a day! LOL (Hours that my boss doesn't know about!!!!)

Enough rambling. Thanks for seven fun years.
Annette