finance a business course and a home study course in architecture, then worked as a carpenter to prepare myself for my chosen profession, that of a building contractor. I had accumulated a fine line of equip- ment, a lovely home and several thousand in the bank when I met and married a lovely girl some ten years my junior. We were blessed with two lovely daughters, and though my lovely wife proved to be fanatic- ally frigid, our marriage lasted for ten hectic years, during which I had started in the manufacturing business, and had finally become a practicing transvestite.

A couple came to our town and promoted a "mock wedding" held in the high school gym as a hospital benefit. I was not in the cast, but my best friend was and got gloriously drunk the night of the show. His aunt had dolled him to perfection, he was gorgeous and I was al- most overcome with excitement upon seeing him in all that finery. The very next week the spring mail order catalog arrived, and miracle of miracles, they showed five dresses and a tailored suit in "Tall Gals" styles, along with slips, hose and size 10 shoes. I lost no time in ordering a black crepe dress with a jewelry neckline, a slip, girdle, hose and black patent ankle strap heels. I ordered a wig from New York from an advertisement in Billboard, makeup I garnered from the dime store and my wife's surplus (she had gone on one of her month long visits to her mother). Finally the things arrived. Typically I waited for everything before even trying them on. At last the fateful day came.

It was Saturday afternoon, the factory was closed, I was alone with my treasures. I set a long mirror against a post and retired to my private office, showered and started to dress. I laid out the lovely things on my desk and started to follow the same routine that I use today, first the bra and falsies, then the girdle (with a large towel for hip accent), the hose and shoes. Then the makeup and jewelry and finally that most important accessory of all, the lovely and most important hair piece. I recall thinking "how familiar all this is, i t is as if I had done it all before, that I was emerging into an identity that I was meant for, it was so thrillingly natural. I have had this feeling so many times since, a wonderful feeling of realization, of finally meeting and joining my true self.

I examined myself in the small bathroom mirror and stepped into the large assembly room of the factory, and walked rapidly toward the upright mirror ahead. Never again will I have such a thrilling thrill! All the years of desire, frustration, longing culminated right here. I went clicking across the cement in my high heels thrilling to the unfamiliar restraint of my tightly drawn hose, the confine of my

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