and have developed proficiency in a number of manual arts, such as carpentry, electrical and plumbing work, concrete and masonery construction to mention but a few. I am a "do it yourself" addict and have a re- putation for that in the community. I frequently be- come deeply involved or take the lead in work projects at my church. I enjoy these activities and have not gone into them to create an impression or camouflage, but these have been a salutory effect to name the least. My theatrical efforts have been very succes- sful enough that I could very easily have been branded a "queer" in the community. Since I have these other talents carrying a strong masculine connotation, I am instead recognized as a very versatile and unusual per- son. The result has been no loss of position in the community or business. Over the years I have gained recognition both at home and abroad, and I am con- condidered an expert in my professional field. This is evidenced by listing in "Who's who and the other compendia". At the age of fifty-three these are facts not to be treated lightly. If I had no family or other responsibilites I might very well yield to Bobbie as Kathy and others have done. But under the circum- stances I can not bring myself to this. Instead I have come to recognize that Bobbie is a real and vital part of a multi-faceted personality and to treat her as such. The inner conflicts of the early years are gone forever. I intend to live out the rest of my life philosphically taking things as they are and not be continually alter- nating and yielding to the fact of resisting what God did for me.
Before reaching this state of mind and existance, I went through any number of cycles of gradually build- ing up a wardrobe only to eventually destroy it by one means or another. Sometimes this destruction involved throwing a bundle in the river, other times it might have been into the heat of the fur nace or a bonfire. On three different occasions I left a suitcase in a mo- tel room or a rented locker while away from home on a business trip. Then a month or so later I would find my way back and go through the embarrassment of iden- tifing and reclaiming. In one instance I left my suit- case and a fur jacket in a locker in Washington. About three weeks later I was in New York and on the spur of
6.