RANSVESTIA

bussed by a most accommodating bus driver. Until you have been all gussied up in your prettiest formal with your wig freshly dressed and wearing your lovely silver or gold evening sandals, wrap, etc. gather in a bus with 30 other girls in the same condition, you don't under- stand what being saturated in femininity really means. The banquet provides not only food and an opportunity to be seen in your best, but fashion shows, award giving, entertainment and good food. (c) there are several meals in the recreation hall of the condominium estate where talks are given, questions answered, discussions carried on and a general opportunity to meet everyone else occurs. (d) In the evenings practice is given in hostessing suppers and cocktail parties in which everyone participates in one way or another so that everyone gets some experience in giving parties and playing hostess for the occasion. These can get pretty convivial particularly after midnight. (I might suggest that anyone going to either the East coast or the West coast make a point of getting about 12 hours sleep a night for the week before going in order to lay in a stock of rest because you won't get much of it either place.)

That is a sort of once over lightly of the way DREAM works. Its most salient feature might be listed as (1) very posh surroundings tending to make everyone feel on their best and most ladylike; (2) a lot of teaching of various aspects of femininity by professional charm school instructors: (3) a dress boutique where you can buy clothes and a wig salon where you can buy wigs, get advice about them and get them set for the special occasions and (4) all operations are either at the resort itself or by bus to the restaurant in town. You are not free to wander around the town but you are free to walk as far as you wish up and down the beautiful sandy beach.

When it is all over, and it is very sad when that time comes, a whole bunch of weird looking men invade the ladies' sanctuary and start driving away in cars, some to home and most to the Portland airport. It becomes almost impossible to relate these ordinary men in their loose and casual traveling clothes to the bevy of beautiful women that you were immersed in the night before at the farewell banquet. It's really quite a shock, women really are nicer then men I've always said. But it is over until the following year and you go home with fond memories and a lot of frustration during the coming year that there are no occasions for getting all fancied up in your pink formal with fur stole and high heel slippers to go out to a banquet or a party. But cheer up, it's only 28 more weeks until DREAM 79.