To repeat myself, this is a completely true story. I left out details that could be used to hurt me or others in this account.

I had a long life and was thankfully disowned by my greedy unforgiving children. My mate of 38 years was now my X, and died also. My other relatives had all passed.

It was peaceful alone in a one-bedroom apartment on the 4th floor. Not having drank or smoked, I lived a modest life.

Almost a decade ago, I realized that owning a car was too expensive and now live more comfortably on Social Security. I did not understand why I got so much but didn’t ask questions. They might want it back.

After serving in the Army during the Vietnam Era I did not trust the Government. That was for a very good reason. It was not ALL McNamara's fault.

Perhaps because of PTSD? I had gender change surgery. Not blaming anyone. After that, life was a lot easier not having to take the Bull that males do.

Briefly, I took an apartment that turned out to be too strange for me. Then the Police came and started to arrest me until the owner, a woman too old to turn tricks, told them that I had nothing to do with what they did there. I thought that I had rented a cheap apartment.

The place was closed before my first check, and after what had happened, I didn’t expect that.

One day I met an Elderly couple and the wife’s sister while waiting for the Streetcar. The encounter only lasted minutes so there was not time to learn much besides exchanging phone numbers. They “said” they were visiting their daughter in Dental School and were from Bend, a town south east, across the Cascade Mountains from here.

It was a nice exchange. From my own past I rarely trusted anyone.

They texted me the next week wanting to meet for coffee. I felt safe enough to meet at a new place a couple of blocks away. I have learned not to trust myself and braced for pointed questions about my real gender and other things. I thought that anyone could tell that I was a man under my disguise. I had been prepared to tell them that I did not talk about my past. That never happened and they soon said that they were a couple of semi-retired medical researchers looking for a house mate at their retirement cabin in the country.

They said that as Medical researchers, they knew little about wells, plumbing, electrical and other infrastructure.

I had nothing to lose, so quickly said yes. When it came to money, I was pleasantly surprised to find that they wanted to pay me generously. In my cynicism I half expected to pay them.

We talked more and I revealed that I was in good health aside from the disgraceful state of my teeth that had really fallen into decay since Covid. There were several reasons for that. Mostly it was my fault.

After a phone call after we sat in the coffee shop, the wife told me that we needed to go to the Dental school, just a short walk from there.

A young woman, I assumed their daughter, took a short look in my mouth and got her Professor. They were all very kind to me. He said the work could be accomplished under conscious sedation anesthesia in a single day. I would stay there overnight, and they would do the restoration the next day. Complete recovery would take a few weeks. I signed medical releases to allow the use of experimental drugs and procedures. In my mind, I had nothing to lose.

Before I could adjust, I was riding in their RV on the way East. It did not matter to me where we were going. I did not care if we stayed west of the continental divide, and most certainly out of the deep south. My prejudice told me that only red necks lived there.

There may be more to follow...