No Assumptions

Liz on Left, Daughter on Right from
the Jessie Hart Collection 

Yesterday I was out and about as I went with my wife Liz to her doctors appointment. Since I had been there several times before, I assumed nothing would be much different and for the most part I would be invisible. In other words, I would be able to blend in with the world.

Except for an unexpected encounter with a delivery driver, nothing much did change. Once again I exchanged pleasantries on the weather with the very nice greeter/directions woman at the door while I waited for Liz to get signed in. I say nice because she normally says you ladies have a good day. Which is always music to my ears. The delivery driver was much different when he seemed genuinely shocked when we came face to face when he was picking up his hand truck to unload. Before he had a chance to react one way or another any further, the elevator door opened and away we went. So I never had the chance to see if he would have had any further reactions to meeting a real live transgender woman face to face. My assumption was he wouldn't.

The rest of the visit consisted of me being mainly ignored which was my assumption all along anyhow. I was satisfied with the fact I was able to blend in with the world. After all, I was just wearing a pair of jeans and my tie-dyed tank top with a peace sign and the slogan "Every Little Thing Gonna' Be Alright". Once again, a throw back to my old hippie/boho days. I love the way the tank top gently hugs my developing curves and shows off what I have worked so hard to earn with the help of my hormone replacement therapy. 

The only other personal contact of the day came later with the pizza delivery man. We have a very regular place we get delivery from and always request (and tip well) a certain driver when we can get him. Since he has seen me several times before without any makeup at all, I was happy for him to see me with a light application of eye makeup and lipstick which was essentially left over from our earlier trip out. As I assumed there was no extra feedback from him. He was pleasant and on his way. 

All in all, these days, assumptions are difficult to make with all the rising anti-transgender hate in the world which will extend sooner or later into the entire LGBTQ community. To counteract all of the possible hate, I try to act as if nothing at all is wrong with me. Which it isn't. In addition, I dress to blend and try to go to safe places. Even doing all of that, I still am always on guard for the person who may negatively question my right to gender freedoms as a transgender woman. 

To do all that I can, I was reached out to yesterday concerning the possibility of me participating on a local Alzheimer's board here in Cincinnati. I said I was interested for a couple of reasons. The first is I feel I need to become more active in the community again since I am beginning to feel better and secondly my Dad passed away from a very ugly battle with Dementia. I'm sure he would want me to get involved however I could to help. At least, it's my assumption. 

Assumptions are difficult anyway you look at them. Once you think you know something for sure, something comes along to change your mind. Hopefully for the better.