RANSVESTIA

It occurs to me that any woman who sews and can follow a pattern, given the proper tools, could tear my Chevy apart and put it back together. How illogical this gender game? Acceptable for a tailor to be a professional, unacceptable for a husband to sew a dress. Poppy- cock! I just charged into the fabric store, dawdled, selected, looked over pattern books, had a ball. On the outside I was my boyself; on the inside I was Rachel, complete with panties and stockings.

I told the proprietress I was "venting my feminine side." She was enthused for me and very helpful. On several occasions, customers who have stopped to talk to me, are amused and encouraging. One store owner said, "The pattern, fabric and sewing machine companies would like to get more men interested in sewing. At a recent sewing contest, all the men who entered received some sort of prize." Sewing has put Rachel in a semi-feminine, semi-acceptable process of shopping in fabric stores and has built my confidence. By admitting, in small steps, my feminine side to people who don't know, I am slowly building my faith in people, so I can as Rachel buy the more difficult items such as shoes and wigs. Small steps towards femininity are fun and rewarding.

Give it a try girls. All it takes is immunity to some laughter, per- sistance, a little time (?), and a desire for a little feminine fun. You might like it.

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"I wrote home and told my parents that I married a local TV personality, but now that they're coming here we'll have to explain what the TV stands for."