One should never "just decide" to live like this. There are many problems to be worked out before such a step is taken. In my case, I still wasn't sure that I could pass in any situation. Electrolysis was still not complete. Even though, I had stopped shaving, I still had to go for treatments every week. For those who are interested, it took four years at one hour a week for complete beard removal. The beard was not heavy, about average, and blond in color. Then there was the matter of a living to be made. Not being blessed with a fortune, I had to think of something to work at. The work I had been doing would have been suitable, but was done mostly by men. I wanted to go into a field which was mostly occupied by women, one which would further test my ability to pass. Going to school as Mary, working in close associ- ation with other students, and the general public, would be the final test. If this could be done, there was every reason to hope that I could live, and work as a woman.

Even with these decisions made, it was another two years before the change was made. Why? As I said before, you don't just decide to take this step. I had a good job with a secure future, this would have to be given up. I knew I would have to live on savings for at least a year, while going to school, and getting established. You think awhile before you give up a job that you like, with people who like and respect you. You know that you will have to move from a home you have lived in for a number of years. Then there are many of the friends you had whom you will never hear from again, because you know that they would not accept your new ways of life.

In my case, electrolysis was still not complete, and this was a must, because of the work I had decided upon. At the school I was going to go to, students work closely with each other, at first, and I felt that it would be odd to be a woman with whiskers!

This was about the time that I started with hormones. The reasons for this, pro and con, have been discussed in the pages of TVia before, so I won't go into that here. Suffice it to say, that I went to see Dr. Benjamin, who examined me, and prescribed the hormones. After three years, no padding is needed, though my figure still leaves much to be desired. I will say here, that I have never known a kinder or more understanding man than Dr. Benjamin. We have become quite good friends, and I will always love and respect him.

Now we come to the change itself. It must be said here, that I have had help from a number of people, two in particular. Virginia, bless

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