Today was the first day of my Real life Test...officially, that is. Unofficially I began on Sunday, spending the whole day and the following Monday, Memorial Day, as my real self.

I didn't do much Sun. and Mon. Went fishing with Tina, my housemate and dear, dear friend, but mostly stayed around the house, maybe trying to convince myself that I needed to do this. Well, TODAY was better than I could have written it!

I woke up 2 1/2 hours before I had to be at work and spent about an hour and a half just making certain that I had all my bases covered, and doing my makeup (understated) and hair (read wig). Then I futzed around for the additional hour, just making myself nervous. Heh.

Clothing was very normal. Ladies Jeans, an orange t-shirt top, white women's walking shoes ( like low top tennis shoes) and a jacket, since it was supposed to rain. (It didn't)

Nails clear polished and nice and shiny. Makeup and sundries packed into a small purse along with cigarettes and lighter. (I don't wanna hear it, thank you.) RLT letter safely packed in my wallet, just in case. Everything was as ready as I could make it.

My bus (I'm an escort on our local transit system, transporting the ill and elderly to appointments, etc) picked me up right on time. My driver, a friend of five years, opened the door and said, "Good morning, Cathy. Climb aboard. We have two wheelchair patients to pick up." I glanced at my copy of our manifest (a schedule of who we are supposed to pick up, and when) and noticed that, at the bottom of the first page, where it normally says, "Pick up escort (my male name)_____ at 8:15, it said, "Pick up escort Catherine Linda Michel!!!

From there, the day just got better and better. I flew through my first day with a smile permanently affixed to my face, and a lightness in my heart. Not ONE single person, all day long, said or did anything to indicate that I had been 'read', although I know I was. A gentleman even held a door for me! Friends I met through the day, merely accepted and called me Catherine, or Cathy. I did things today I never dreamed I'd do. Walked into stores, hospitals, nursing homes, fast food joints, you name it, I did it, and all as Cathy!

'In the shadow of despair'...I wrote that a few days ago, when events in my life spiraled out of control and I lost a pet, 'hope can be found.' Today I found that hope.

I simply cannot believe the level of acceptance I was the recipient of, today. The best thing though, is...I SUCCEEDED!!! The perennial failure finally did something right!! My worst fears never reared their ugly heads, although I am certain there will be hard times ahead, when they might, and I had FUN...at WORK!!

My boss, along with the county attorney, put out a memo concerning my beginning the RLT, along with a nicely worded, gentle warning about sexual harassment, along with the letter I wrote, which was posted here in one of my blog entries.

I'm still coming down from the natural high I've been riding all day, but I wanted, needed, to share this day with all of you. For everyone who begins their RLT, I wish you a day like today was for me. For those whose first day didn't go so well, I apologize for society in general. I wish all of you could have been here with me, to share with me the joy and freedom I felt as I did the same things I do at work, every day, yet I did them with a new sense of purpose, as Catherine Linda Michel. A new, proud, happy woman.

For all of you who might be considering this as the next step in your transition, all I can say is, lay your groundwork as thoroughly and carefully as you can. Sound out your friends, co-workers and family members on the subject. Practice, practice, practice, on your makeup, your overall presentation, and voice. Then, when you feel ready, DO IT! Don't let your fears of failure keep you from the most important day of your lives. Be safe, above all. Do this in the company of trusted, understanding, supportive friends, if at all possible. But DO IT!

For everyone who has helped, supported, cajoled, bullied, led by example, commented, whatever, along my twisted path towards this day I can only say a very inadequate, Thank You. Without your fine examples and encouragement, I could NEVER have done this. This has been the happiest day of my life, and I owe a lot of it to all of you.

I'll write more as it happens, but I don't think I can ever top this day. The only things that could have made it better would have been hearing good news about my Mom, winning the lottery, or having a rich person propose marriage to me. Of the three, I'd prefer to hear the good news about Mom.

Thank you. Huggles and kisses from a proud, new,
CATHERINE LINDA MICHEL