could. In 1967 I went to Expo in Montreal but I purposely took the boat for 3 days between Detroit and Montreal. You are really on your metal on a small boat-if you are read it will be all over the boat in a few hours and there is nowhere to hide. As I had long planned on re- turning from Europe on a boat this was a practice session. In 1968 I went to Alaska spent a lot of time with the same group on planes, in buses, meals at hotels, and again on a boat from Skagway down to Vancouver. Again a self-testing in preparation. I gave myself an "A" because I survived the interesting experience of having another lady as my roommate in Nome and also that of winning first prize in a hat de- sign contest on the boat. So I was ready.
Last year I checked out the passport situation while I was in Wash- ington and found that I could get what is called an "AKA” (for “also known as") passport. Unhappily the passport dept. just couldn't bring themselves to putting the picture that has previously been used in my Virginia Views column because it looked too feminine. So I had to go and have what I came to call my "half ass" picture taken. This was done the week of my mother's death when I'd had to be Charles for 6 days. I had wet my hair and combed it back and greased it down but it still stuck out from the side of my head hippy style so that it was more feminine than masculine. I wore Charles' glasses, no makeup, no earrings or necklace but I did wear a flowery blouse of Virginias. Well the pic came out looking like either an effeminate hippy or a woman who didn't give much of a damn but the passport office ac- cepted it and I had a passport. So with all those preparations I was ready and I left Los Angeles on Thursday, June 19 for San Francisco with one fold-over wardrobe bag and one regular suitcase. When you consider that in transatlantic and European flights you are only allow- ed 44 lbs. besides what you can carry and further that I had to have clothes to travel in, sightsee in, go to parties, make TV appearances, dress for dinner on the boat on the way home and miscellaneous things you can see that packing and selecting had been considerable of a prob- lem. Thank heaven I had my own hair which obviated the wig rou- tine another preparation.
So
June 19th to San Francisco. Dinner with one of our contributors, and evening with my old professor at his home.
June 20th. Up at 6 a.m. to do the "A.M." show on KGO. Next to police headquarters to see Officer Blackstone, a good friend to all
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