My daughter prodded me a bit reminding me that I hadn't written any updates to "walking in new shoes". I don't know if she is trying to keep me current. Keeping me creative or she's just bored and needs some new writing to read. I guess this is for her … LOL
I'm sure if you were to dig deep enough you could always find things to write about but I've not had the inspiration to write or anything to really share of substance without going over things I've already written about. At the moment life is awesome, I'm looking forward to the holidays and I'm totally enjoying my family. Most of all I'm enjoying having the weight of my life's big secret from my shoulders.
Over the last few weeks it would seem that things have quieted down. It's a little strange to have EVERYONE or almost everyone calling me Karyn now. I absolutely love finally being recognized in one sense but it is very much a new world for me. So far there hasn't been any negativity that I'm aware of.
I'm finding that it is a great feeling of acceptance to be acknowledged as Karyn but then it is a whole deeper level when those people (mainly women) treat me as female in our conversations. It's not anything that I've ever anticipated but it is certainly something that makes me feel alive.
This past Saturday I met with a tattoo artist and gave her the components to draw up a custom tattoo for me. For years I had always wanted to get one but I had an issue with what I'd be expected to get as a male and quite honestly, I didn't want something that didn't fit who I was. For years all my friends would get tattooed, even Dee has 4 of her own and yet everyone would always ask when I was getting mine; now I am!
There are 4 components to the tattoo that have some significant meaning to me.
A treble clef: Represents me and my love of music
A heart: Represents Dee and the fact that she is the love of my life
An open rose: signifies my daughter Jess and is open to show that she has blossomed into a beautiful woman.
A closed rose: signifies my granddaughter Gianna and is closed to so show the beauty of her newness and youth.
We sat and looked at different styles of roses and I picked a style. I have given the artist creative control to have some fun with the tattoo and get something that not only has meaning but is mine, no one else has it. I'm guessing that the flow of it will be relatively simple and I can't wait to see her design. The placement hasn't fully been determined but I do know it will be somewhere on my back. Hopefully when it is done I will get pictures up here.
Lastly I have a funny little story. About 2 years ago on a shopping trip to a local mall, early in my transition I had been in a weird place. People were starting to see me as female and address me with feminine pronouns when they would acknowledge us. We happened to be browsing as a Xmas ornament store in the mall when from across the store my daughter yelled "Dad check this out!" Being self conscious I retreated from the store and I know that my daughter got hurt because she had felt that she hurt me. Funny how far I've really come when I think about it.
Tonight while in a local mall my daughter dragged us into a new Bare Escentuals store. For those of you who don't know what that might be, it is a high end mineral makeup store that I use and I love. Standing in the store looking at makeup brushes my daughter turned and said "Dad, isn't this like one of the brushes you use?" It struck me funny and I replied, those 2 things don't work well in sentence when out in public. The nice part was that I didn't freak out, I didn't retreat, I just kind of got a laugh from it because it sounded sooo funny to me. In fact one of the funniest things my daughter says is; "I love my dad, isn't she beautiful." For some reason "Dad" "She" and "Beautiful" seem like they are foreign substances in the sentence together.. LOL
An old friend recently called someone who currently knows me to find out if the info they heard about me was in fact true. I guess he was pretty shocked to hear it was but the best part was when he told my friend that he felt bad. Apparently over the years he had a habit of calling me bitch and now he thinks back and adds what he knows about me know and it is bothering him. It's not a big deal to me, I understood where he was coming from at the time and well, sometimes I was back then!
I guess that is the update for now, it's all about getting the shopping done and being in the moment for the holidays. I can honestly say I've never felt happier…
Karyn
3 comments:
I'm glad your daughter urged you to write. I love reading what you have to say, even if you think you've run out of things to say. I have times like that, but then something comes up that I have to comment on. Still, it's great, I know, when things are just going along smoothly with no drama. I could get used to that!
Thanks Jessica! Yes, your Dad is beautiful!
Ironically one of the biggest reasons I wanted and need to transition WAS to be seen and treated as one of the girls in conversations and such. To finally really be part of the group fully. For me, that was the Holy Grail of transition, and now, it's mine all mine!
This was a great post Kayrn, and yeah, I'm glad Jessica gave you a nudge! You've come a long, long way girl, you rock!
I love the idea for the tat. Me, I'm still trying to decide when/if I'm going to get some boy art. There are two pieces I really want to get, one that I've been inking in Henna for a while to be sure I really want it there, and want it there for the rest of my life.
Honestly I'm strange. Surgery, major surgery to fix my body, that was a no brainer. Something as simple as ink, that's leaving me unsure. Go figure!
I agree with Veronique, hearing about the smooth going, drama free stuff is good too!
strange, because I think i'm already used to being called "dad" while with the kids as Lori. It doesn't bother me...all that much ;)
I'm sure I'll be gentle when they do it excessively or attract to much attention to ourselves. Glad to see you blogging again!
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