for some kid doomed to go through the usual torture and fear many of us had to live with.

And speaking of kids, do you remember many issues of TVia ago when I said that I was pushing forth a patient campaign vis a vis some teenagers in my family? If I recall I mentioned that I had suceeded in talking with the oldest boy (now a college student) and how he surprised me with a most nonchalant reaction after I told him about Susanna...and how he did meet me and had a most friendly chat with him. Recently it was the next boy in line who was introduced to Susanna. He's a typical teen-ager rock-and-roller - longish hair and side-burns. His reaction was: "I guess you have a right to do your thing." I was so happy with his attitude that on that very same evening I took him out for dinner at a nice restaurant... the treat was on "Aunt Susanna" who was careful enough to slip him the money because it looks better when "the man" pays. It's really amazing how today's teenagers will look upon one of us. To them, we are just simply "doing our thing"...expressing ourselves in our own way, just as they express themselves with odd fashions, long hair, etc...It's funny to realize that even if they should think we are odd-balls, this is much better than being a square. To wear a dress and to spend an afternoon sewing is, to them, like thumbing our nose at the "Establishment". Needless to say, Susanna's success in being accepted by all the members of her family has meant total peace of mind and complete freedom to "do my thing" whenever I want, which is just about every day. And don't let anybody kid you about too much dressing leading into satiation. The more you dress, the better a job you do, the more real you look, and the more deeply you feel "the girl within". You find that you are no longer "masquerading" and that you are dealing with a very definite person, a person who is happy because she is free.

Now, before signing off...here's a few THINGS I COULD DO WITHOUT:... The TV who comes to you for advice and proceeds to reject every single suggestion you make...the TV who claims to be an oldtimer and states that he wears size 16. When you meet him for a dressing up get-together you discover that the only size he can get into is a 20!...The TV who adores sleeveless frocks but won't shave the fur on his arms...The TV who goes to the corner food market wearing elbow-length gloves and a cocktail dress...and finally, the TV who's scared of having his ears pierced! Believe me (ouch!) there's nothing (ouch!) to it.

79

With piercing love to all, SUSANNA