13.

It was in this church that I met Edith and we quickly became friends. I was willing to work in the various women's projects of the church--a church always has lots of things for its willing women to do--and Edith, long a member there gave me direction We cooked together for the church suppers, sewed for the bazaar, led devotions and gave reports for women's group meetings From her I quick- ly learned the ins and outs of the personal relationships of the members and of the official life of the church. Now, Edith too, was here at the Airport to see me board my plane But she did not know, as did the other two, that one of my suitcases held the business suit, shirts, ties, shoes etc for the lectures and business conferences which would make up most of my several weeks away She still knows me only as Jeannette J--, and her continuing friend- ship is one of the warm high-valued treasures of my life

The other suitcase held my best black dress and the hat gloves, shoes etc in which I would speak several times this weekend in and near Boston My traveling out- fit was a blouse, skirt, and jacket, with no hat--I was flying coach not first class, and my hair (my own, not a wig) has turned out to be one of my better feminine attri butes, so I like to go hatless when it is appropriate for a woman to do so

Goodbye kisses were exchanged all around and I climbed the ramp into the big jet, waved goodbye and found my seat In less than two hours I'd be in New York--my first time as a woman It was Wednesday evening On Thursday I would do a little shopping and by telephone conduct certain bus- iness and set up some appointments for my masculine self to fill later Then Friday I would take the train into New England for my several lectures--lectures which had been offered my male self when several groups learned that I was coming east on tour again. My male self had "regret- fully" been unable to accept these engagements due to a tight schedule, but I had told them that a woman co-worker who is adequately informed on these subjects will be in the area and is competant to speak for you if you wish" And so they accepted Mrs. J-- as their speaker