RANSVESTIA

Then there came the question of when I could arrange to have it done, and what institution should I go for it, and how much it would cost, and how long would I be incapacitated and therefore unable to carry on all my other activities, etc. So I had to explore the situation completely. There are medical school clinics like Johns Hopkins or Stanford and there are a lot of private doctors in a lot of places around the country that will undertake this sort of special problem. But some of them are rather slipshod and I have seen some terrible results-closure, lopsidedness, infection, etc. These were pretty "off putting" if you know what I mean.

Then there was the question of what everyone would say. With my strong stand in the past against having it done, I was sure there would be a lot of talk like "I told you so," "I knew she was that type all along," or "what a hypocrite, talking against it and then finally having it done herself." I wondered if I could face you all.

But things finally just came to a point. I couldn't buy any pretty clip-on earrings any more, so I finally said the heck with the pain, with the danger, with the inconvenience and all those other objec- tions. I didn't go to Johns Hopkins or to Stanford or to any of the famous surgeons. I went to May Co. here in Los Angeles and for $9.95 only, I had it done-I got my ears pierced. So Now I can be a real woman-sounds like a famous phrase I've heard elsewhere. But while the holes came out even and the pain was hardly noticeable and the cost was little enough, I still have to wear my form—the gold studs— for several months while the punctures heal without closing up and that will be something of a sacrifice because I like dangly earrings. But I had to do it because they hardly make clip-ons or screw-type earrings anymore. Everything is for pierced, so I had no choice.

Finally I had an operation, but not the operation. Sorry if I misled any of you.

Virginia

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