Transvestia

my new found feminity. But all good things come to an end, even though we don't want them to. This experience made me more determined than ever to live the feminine side of life.

The next milestone in my life happened about two weeks later. It occured when I stopped overnight in Portland, Oregon on my trip home. On my way to the bus station in the morning I passed a beauty salon that had a large sign in one of its windows, advertising "Machine Permanent Waves $6.95, No Appointment Necessary". Looking in the salon I saw only one customer having her hair done, while two operators were standing at the counter talking. On impulse I said to myself, “I have always wanted wavy hair so let's give it a try”. Going inside, one of the operators at the counter asked if she could help me. I replied, "Yes, I would like to have the machine permanent wave you are advertising in the window. She said, “Alright, come with me", taking me back and seating me at her booth. She started to work on my hair just as if it was an everyday occurance for a man to get a permanent wave. As she rolled my hair on rods and fastened them in brackets, we talked about my hair and the care I would give it with my new permanent wave. She was very pleasant and answered all my questions very willingly, even though some of them must have seemed rather stupid to her. The complete process of a permanent, set, drying, and comb out was a very pleasant and rewarding experience. I feel this was due to having no fear or apprehensions about what I was doing or what people might think or say about my getting a permanent wave. I had no feeling of guilt or that what I was doing was wrong in any way. I just enjoyed and loved every second of it. At last I knew what a girl means when she says, “A new hair do really picks up your spirits.'

A few months later I was married and my wife of 7 months voiced so much objection the one time I did don feminine attire that I shut the door on femininity for the next six years.

The turning point in my life happened in 1951. I had an airplane accident that sent me to the hospital in extremely critical condition. At the time my future looked very black. Little did I know what wonderful things the future really held for me. I was in a Veterans Hospital for 31⁄2 years during which time the doctors performed numerous operations patching me

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