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| Image from Kelly Sikkema on UnSplash. |
It is Friday and the day my Veteran’s Administration LGBTQ group meets…maybe.
I say maybe the orange TACO in Washington is still
attempting to cut back staff at the Dayton, Ohio VA where the group is located.
I became semi-concerned last week when the moderator did not end the meeting
the way they always do. I wondered at the time if they were not telling us
something. Then, this week, my fears grew when I received none of the advanced
reminders for the virtual meeting. It is the only support group I have really enjoyed,
so I would hate to see it go. Especially to someone like tRumpt. We shall see. Happily,
my fears were put aside for another week because I just received my call in texts
from the VA.
Also, summer has finally arrived here in Southwestern Ohio
and with it, my chance to go through my wardrobe and pick out the items I can wear.
The problem I have is, I am not supposed to be out in the sun because it
increases the iron levels in my body past an unhealthy point. Since I have
tried to increase my walks by a substantial amount, finding any long-sleeved tops
which are lite weight and comfortable for my walks, is difficult to do. Having
the neighborhood see me in the same couple of long-sleeved shirts in hot
weather may be enough to attract unwanted attention.
Speaking of unwanted attention, I made a comment about
pre-opt transgender women using women’s locker rooms to shower and change in. My
example comes from a protest a couple of years ago in Xenia, Ohio which is a conservative
little town not far from me. I had a comment from Pammie asking me why I chose only
“pre-opt” and not “post-opt” trans women in my comment. First, thanks for the
comment and my answer is a difficult one to write. Because in many ways it will make me seem like
a hypocrite.
How? Because I believe gender is between the ears and sex is
between the legs but not too much of the rest of the public. It’s no wonder the
trans woman was told to leave when she was in the women’s locker room, naked.
Perhaps also, I could not imagine showing my body in a semi-public space for
all other women to see. If they had any questions, I was a transgender woman,
my nudity would wipe out any questions since I am pre-opt. Which means, I have
had no gender surgeries. I think also, post opt trans women should feel more
comfortable in their bodies. But that is up to them! I hope that answers the
question.
On a positive note, my wife Liz and I are going through with
plans to take a tour this fall up through Boston to Maine. The trip includes riding
Amtrak as well as a couple of other dinner trains. Since I am a huge rail fan,
I cannot wait for the trip. Hopefully, this time, I will not catch Covid and
end up in a hospital far from home. Which is what happened to me last winter
when we went to the Florida Keys.
Closer to now, my daughter is planning a big graduation party
for the three grads in her family which Liz and I have been invited to. In
addition to the graduation of my oldest grandchild from Ohio State, my son-in-law
is graduating with a MBA from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio and my youngest
grandchild is graduating from high school. I feel old! But seriously, I am obsessed
with what I am going to wear. I am thinking about wearing my yellow print maxi
dress which would be very comfortable and would fit well because of the diet I
have been on. But I still have some time to think about it since it is not
until the July 4th weekend.
Thanks to all of you for reading along every day and taking
the time out to comment on my posts, your input makes it all so worthwhile.
Plus, as I said, the VA support group meeting is on for
another week and I will let you know if something exciting happens.
