You know, there comes a time when things seem to happen REALLY FAST. It sometimes feels that way for me about now...

The number of people who know Anne is getting pretty large - and growing - at work, in the family and around town. And, this list is growing faster than I expected.

With HR's support, I've notified my boss that I'll be taking a medical leave of absence this summer... I also requested a meeting to talk to him and explain things. (HR's idea and support.) Then, there are three more people that will be told - over the next few weeks (my bosses' boss, his boss and his boss). Why, you may ask, when I'm not transitioning for a few months? Well, I'll tell you... It's an attempt to make the transition as smooth as possible. (It'd really be a problem were I to have to go out - the week before a system went live or some other time critical event. So, the management needs to know about the leave of absence for planning purposes... Okay. The notification was sufficient for that. But, my job can take me all over the country and occasionally elsewhere in the world. The division I'm in isn't that large - but we're really widely spread. So, they need to think over potential issues. (Corporate policy supports me, and state laws protect me ... at least where corporate HQ, division HQ and my office are concerned.)

I've learned that my older daughter's told quite a few of her friends - some of who are mutual friends (though, they're obviously closer to her)... And all of them are "good" with my transition. For a few, I'm not the first TS person they've known or the first to transition. My younger daughter's also told her current boy friend - and he's apparently also cool with it.

Then, while visiting here in the Houston area, I came out to one of my cousins... No problem again. But, the next morning, her mom asked her if I was TS... I was like *blink* where'd that come from? It's certainly NOT the long hair... She saw that last summer at another cousin's wedding. She said it wasn't anything I said or did. She put it off on the family history of "ESP"... (Yea, far to many have made off the wall guesses like this - been right - for a coincidence; sadly, not reliable enough to win the lottery. LOL) In any event, she's also more than good. She offered to talk to my mom - who's been avoiding the topic BIG TIME.

As to my parents... I've started phone conversations several times to tell them the time line... Only to have the conversation side tracked. (Oh, every time it's been a good reason - most recently, my favorite Aunt's cancer metastasizing throughout her body.) The Aunt even told my mom that I needed to talk. I gave up on trying to let them know over the phone and sent an e-mail. We'll see how things go when I "call home" this weekend. (Wish me luck.) Given my Christmas present (from my mom) I think they knew this was coming, but...

The only issue - in the short term - is with the Aunt... The doc's given her months (6-9) to live... That puts it after my transition. I'll cross THAT bridge when I come to it. There are a few members of the family that are expected to NOT be accepting, at least in the short term... And, my Uncle has Alzheimer's which will make things difficult as well. We'll see, talk, think... (Yes, I'm a tad afraid of the outcome when Anne appears at her Aunt's funeral.)

Back to life... The past five weeks, I've been commuting to the Houston, Texas area every week... Yes, stress on the family. I miss them so. But I've also been having trouble getting electrolysis sessions in. Such a long trek to a smooth face. Given how much and how coarse the hair was to begin with it's not surprising it's not gone yet... At least now I can go a few days without shaving and folks just think I missed a few hairs. So, light at the end of the tunnel.

What's next? I'll be starting the name-change paperwork in a few weeks... (I do have to finalize on a name, don't I. LOL) And, hopefully having another FFS consult (If the company insurance will pay for it, why not improve my passability?)

For the few dozen who have been following this, thank you. Comments and questions are welcome. LOL They actually encourage me, so perhaps you'd best not. Else I might be encouraged to keep on talking about plans.

Thanks for reading.

Anne