In Shakespeare’s time, men played all the female roles. Wouldn’t that have been fun? Not only was it acceptable, but it was also mainstream, and what wonderful clothing we could wear. If we can learn anything from history, it is that varying notions can change—for either better or worse. If you are like me, there is an ebb and flow to your dressing. At times, the anxiety of not dressing is worse than the fight against wanting to.
I really feel like Charlie Brown running to kick the football and knowing Lucy is going to pull it away. I can’t stop myself from the smallest glimmer of hope. Will there ever be a world in which it is okay for anyone to be what they want? And just exactly, what does that entail? I look through all of my clothing and hair options, wondering what my best friends would think if they saw me dressed in all my glory. I know many of you have already experienced this. I’ve read your recounting of friends and family lost to those who were accepting and became closer. I have no doubts that I would… be surprised. We are the perfect example of saying one thing and truthfully meaning something else. We hide who we are while pretending to be that which we are not. I mention my golf partner (who does kind things but is one of those who is perceived as a right-wing bigot.) because I do my best to see beyond his words and withhold permanent judgment of his soul.
My other golf buddy has a married, lesbian daughter and she at times claims to be trans (searching for her own truth). You would expect them to react in a certain way, just like the millions of unknowing, uneducated people expect us to act and be based on their perceptions. How would my long-time best friend react? Every song or story has that arc where someone unexpected will stand with you while those we believe will turn their backs. Of course, in the movie, one of them comes back and depending on whether it’s a drama or comedy, will potentially throw you to the wolves again or lift you up. What I can’t say with any certainty is which one of the three will still be there after seeing me dressed. Some of you would like to tell me that I should find out, or to immediately dump the bigoted one, or not to care and to just be me and take it as it comes. In the past, I had responsibilities that I wouldn’t exchange to find out. Now, with the passing of both of my parents, who am I worried about? Me, for the simple answer. I am the one burdened by uncertainty.
I’ve been described as a person with great clarity who sees the bigger picture and gets things done… and yet, here I still am, tossed about in my ongoing search for “My Truth.” What I can say is that I am enthralled with everything feminine and always have been. If I had that in my partner, would I dress as much? Good question. Do I dress (being single for over 10 years) because I lack that from another or because I am that? My ex-wife was very good with her makeup but lacked any type of sex appeal. (A lot to do with her toxic personality.) The more I tried to speak to the things that attracted me, the more she belittled me. My other relationship was with someone who was kind (a trait important to me) but didn’t wear makeup, or jewelry and rarely dressed up. My god, what would I be if I had married Raquel Welch or Sophia Vergara? Would they have been enough?
Truthfully, I don’t believe so, and I would have stretched out many of their clothes and surely broken some of their shoes in my unrelenting need to wear them. What they would have brought to me is the reflection of what I need to be me. I have that now with my closet full of dresses and shoes, plus the ability to dress whenever I like. What I don’t have is recognition and acceptance from others. Yes, you all count, but you know what I mean. My daughters are in the don’t tell, don’t let us see, and we don’t talk about it, stage, but I could see that changing if I pursue the next steps that I keep saying I should. It’s more likely every day, as I want to hear what a professional has to say. I am a difficult subject to be sure. As the counselor is trying to evaluate me, I will be doing so in return.
What perplexes me is what would I feel like if I took the steps to HRT. Do I even want to know? Would it ruin what I have, make it better, or even become more confusing? That is my mind at work. If all I’m worried about is me, and I have ample opportunity to dress, to move and start fresh elsewhere, and live my best life, why concern myself with it? Because… I might just find out that I really am more as easily as I might find the satisfaction to know that I’m not. And that will… possibly change nothing as I’m going to stay put and spend oodles of money on dresses on eBay and continue to golf with my (ignorant to what I am) golf buddies.
I need to, want to, and love to dress. I am part woman (maybe more) than I am man, most assuredly so on the inside. I would love my outside to at least be more neutral, which I am working on. I get that HRT would help with that (A huge draw for me), but I’m already losing distance off my drives… In a world that currently demonizes us, why would I want to put myself out there? I wouldn’t, at least not here where I live. My decision may be to sell the big house I don’t need with all of its maintenance and move away as I fantasize about. Live my life as the daring gender-neutral person who is (hopefully) accepted by their community, and let nature determine the ultimate outcome (HRT to be or not to be)
What I have accepted, that curbs the anxiety I once felt, is that it’s okay to be more than just a crossdresser, because aren’t we all wanting to be more in some capacity than what we are… a better husband, father, friend, worker, volunteer? Aren’t we looking for acceptance in all aspects of our lives, not just for wearing a dress and high heels? I am Brina and she is me; together we make one hell of a team. I’m only sorry that it took most of my life to recognize that fact. (I do wish she’d curb her spending some…) I love the feel of a pretty dress and the alluring scent of exotic perfume, regardless of whether I’m the one to wear them. Finding a partner that accepts this side of me (No… embraces this side) would be amazing. I just may have to kick the ball that Lucy is holding for it to come true, not likely, but being an optimist like Charlie Brown, maybe this time it will be different!
Have a wonderful Fall (or Spring) and find that spark within yourself that fans the fire to be more, in whatever it is you desire.
Until next time…
More Articles by Sabrina MacTavish
- From Across the Room
- Hello 2025! An Invitation to submit an article.
- Left or Right?
- A Small Fortune
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Latest posts by Sabrina MacTavish (see all)
- From Across the Room - March 5, 2025
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- Left or Right? - November 8, 2024
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I am a math teacher. All my life, math has been based on sets. An element is either in the set or out of the set. But then I discovered fuzzy sets and fuzzy logic, and this revelation has changed my life. For the ‘set’ of men, traditional math says you are either in the set (man) or out of it (woman). But with fuzzy sets, you can be, say, 70% in the set and 30% out of it. I have now come to view most of life that way. I see all classifications as fuzzy. I view myself, for… Read more »
I’m with you. We are by nature a product of two individuals, male and female. Their union and mixing of genes contribute to who we are. Why is it so hard to understand that it means a blending of male and female. Sure, one chromosome dictates physical transformation, but we are a compilation of both in all traits, even in our physical makeup. “You have your mother’s eyes!" for example. Fuzzy math most certainly works in principle with genetics. We, as a world, need to move on from definitive definitions and accept one premise only. We are all of the… Read more »
Thank you Sabrina for your article.
You are welcome! Thanks for reading and commenting 🙂
great post, yes it would be great if society would understand the cross-dressing world we live in and let us dress up just like in the old days of men being the female of the family so to speak and wear a dress or skirt and blouse. there is T.V. shows with men dressed in a dress and make up, then we have a show that men dress up to see how we look all dressed up pretty. i don’t know the name of the show. real women dress like men and get away with it, what is that all… Read more »
Thanks for the comments. Those who want to control the narrative (and there are many from lots of groups) know that by using negativity they can FORCE others to go along out of fear they might be next. This is the current world; a few dictate to the masses. Eventually, something will give, and the mainstream puts its foot down. Let’s hope that happens sooner rather than later.
Sophie, I’ve recently discovered Dr. Z, PhD on Utube. I understand you may already be talking with a counselor, but I think she possibly could be very helpful to you. Her insights of working in the trans field for many years, like 16, I believe, are wonderful. I talk to a therapist in the field, too, and I left one before her because I didn’t feel I was getting, or going to get, anywhere. I find listening to Dr. Z quite interesting and she covers many of the things you write about. Of course in the end, all we decide… Read more »
Thanks for the suggestions; I’ll take a look. I’m glad that it is working out so well for you. I hope wherever I end up it is without regret. That is what I aspire to achieve now that it is up to me.
One other note – I asked myself the following question before I forged ahead with my transition. I asked myself, am I willing to spend the rest of my life in a female body even if I later decide it was not the thing to do. I obviously answered I was willing as I felt I really had nothing to lose. My rationale was if I didn’t I might, and most likely would have lived out the rest if my life with regret and not fully happy about myself. I knew the body, the outward firm, is simply flesh. But… Read more »
That is great reasoning! I hope others have read this story and your comments. They are very constructive and helpful.
Sabrina,
You’re welcome 😊
Sabrina, Dear sweet Sabrina, I woke up this morning in my nightgown, turned on my PC, and read your wonderful words! Oh! I almost thought it was me, speaking! I too have experienced your feelings; like right now! Yes, I am beyond crossdressing on weekends, slipping on a pretty skirt, or a pair of pretty panties, enjoying the thrill and then going back to my drab male self. I have done that too many years, and now, my quandary – I now mostly feel like a woman, yet I am a senior citizen! Is it too late? Honestly, I want,… Read more »
I know to that of which you speak! Some days are harder than others. What is the most difficult is knowing which end I truly lean towards. If I could only be certain then life would progress so much easier. Thank you for the comments and my best to you 🙂
If only we had a crystal ball. For some of us the unknown is so powerful it keeps us from ever knowing.
Thanks
Hugs Kelly
That’s a good way to put it! Thanks for the comment 🙂
Brina, I so understand. I am but I can’t – well yes I can, but at this time I choose not to – be.
And I live 5, 6, 7. . . 18, 29, 20, 21 . . . 48, 49, 50. . . 65, 66, 67, 68 . . . How many more years ahead?
Sigh, such is our life.
To each their own as we try our best to navigate the rough waters! Thanks for the comments 🙂