RA

Transvestia

told nothing about my cross-dressing; to this day they know absolutely nothing of my transvestism.

Annette flew in from Idaho to interview three of us FPs in Denver for FPE membership and we then started our Sigma Chapter. We met in one of the other girls' homes for the first year, each of us changing into our feminine clothes at the meeting. Virginia visited us in 1968 and with her advice and help I finally solved my make-up problems and began working toward a passable feminine voice. In my private dressing at home I concentrated on charm and poise practice, my spirits nourished by the hope that perhaps someday I could go out in public as a woman.

Our chapter gradually grew and during the next year wives began to attend. My wife attended three of these meetings during 1969 in- cluding a welcome for Virginia at our home. This was the first time she had seen me as Maureen since my ill-fated dressing attempts 19 years previously and she was shocked. She was taken aback at the extent that each FP went to in order to become as authentic a woman as possible. My wife handled herself well during the meetings but after each, was emotionally distraught for several days. Even though the meetings were quiet friendly events with everybody on the best of behavior, she finally told me that emotionally she could not stand it and refused to attend any more.

As part of a business trip to New York in 1969 I visited with Susanna and Marie at Casa Susanna for two weekends. Aside from Dream 73 this was the most important TV event in my life. They opened the door to what I could accomplish in passing as a woman if only I would make the effort. Both of these dear people worked tirelessly with me, coaching me on my walking, sitting, mannerisms and speech. Over and over Susanna emphasized the walk and the talk; I've never forgotten this. Marie fitted me with one of her superb wigs; it's the finest I've owned and is the one I'm wearing in the leading lady portrait. I left there glowing; they had shown me that my dream of a life in public as Maureen was within reach.

Buoyed up with encouragement from Susanna and Marie I went to work even harder on voice and charm practice. Using a tape recorder I practiced Virginia's voice technique for 15 to 30 minutes. each lunch time at work, sitting out in the parking lot in my car

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