Now the Longer Story
Right out of the box let me say several things before I give the longer story:
1) It was not my intention to get political or make some sort of statement about the virus. However as I read the posts some have narrowed the reasons down to partly that very thing. People are angry and are looking to anything different as the object to pitch their anger onto.
2) I actual had something similar happen on 1 Dec 2019 and really never thought twice about it. I posted some pictures here and went about my business. I actually forgot the incident happened but it come back to mind when I got the ugly faces in the restaurant Friday. I am thinking of placing the details of that situation on the posted pictures but I would ruin an otherwise, happy outing.
3) Lastly I love everyone that posted support. I have been doing this many years and I thought I had a tougher skin. Sometimes I think I have most of life figured out. I just assume most people will live and let.. I know you all do, thank you again for the loving support
Now the Longer Story.
A cold front swept into the state of Texas early Friday morning. We all know when cold air meets warmer, wet air you might get rain. Sure enough it was raining pretty good by the time the sun came up. I so want to go out, take a few pictures in the rain and maybe go to lunch presenting as a lady. I have not gone out cross-dressed since 8 March2020! Yeah I remember the date: partly because I can see the pictures on my FB account but partly because this not like me at all. My wife lets me dress up as often as I like. I love to look pretty and go out to eat. Anyone that has ever ran into me immediately understands I am all about the entertainment. If I am not making you happy then I am failing. I think this is why I also enjoy cosplay so much. If you do a good job at your presentation people smile. They may even take your picture!
The temperature was nice and cool (55 degrees) so I could wear my red PROS suit! So I got dressed, put on the make-up, charged the cameras. I made a plan in my mind to take a few pictures at the Town Square. Then off to the Lake Park. There is also a Boat Launch so I would look at the ducks. Lastly I was going to pick up some lunch for me and the wife. That would be a pretty good day for not driving all the way into Dallas. Since the virus and the riots I have not been down town since November2019. That was the Dallas Fetish Ball.
The first stop was nice. I had trouble pulling on my rubber gloves: the cuffs on the red suit are really tight. You really need to put on the rubber gloves before you pull on the suit. So I walked all around the square and jumped back in the car to drive to the next location. If you are late to the party you can see the video here:
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The Lake Park was very windy! The rain had stopped but now it is really cold! The wind is whipping my hair around however those videos are really nice. I need to go back there again. Same thing thing, for those that are later look here:
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Next was the Boat Landing. The rain had stopped and the wind was now settling down. I saw the ducks and took a few videos.
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Lastly I thought I wanted to put on my black PROS coat. The wind had stopped and the red suit was sort of getting warm so back to the house to pull that off. I have video of that I need to post. Now I am off to pick up lunch. I am going to post the video of me in the parking lot but I need to edit it down.
Walking in to a restaurant you have to wear a surgical mask however when you eat or drink you can pull it off. Go figure. Over these past months of not going out presenting as a lady; I have not missed anything because when you pull it off the surgical mask is caked up with make-up. Great. What do all the other girls do? I guess no one wears make-up anymore. As I walked in the restaurant I once went to months again was very different. The bar is still the same place but instead of 15 seats there is 4. The rest of the space has tables and tape separating the stools. I guess I paused at the first look and maybe that is what set off the customers. It was then I glanced across the dining room. A dining room that once held thirty tables had now eight. Tape was everyplace like a maze. You had to walk all these crazy patterns to navigate to a table. Then I looked at them. Maybe they were looking at me. It was their eyes. They looked mean and they looked as if to say; ”why are you in our space?” I snapped back into real time and quickly walked to the bar. I was comforted to see my bar tender I have known for years. She said HELLO MISS RACHEL! Wow, I melted inside. I had not stepped into this place in months and she knew me right of the bat! I sat on the stool and nervously looked behind me. The customers were still staring and at that moment I said to myself forget them, focus on your friend on the other side of the bar.
The problem was I could not focus. One of the first things I learned as a cross-dresser was never, never, NEVER feel ashamed at who you are. You walk into a room and YOU OWN THE PLACE! If you show fear or you show that you are dishonest you have lost. If you are honest everyone can sense YOUR SPIRIT. If you project honesty and confidence even the most hardened person against being a CD has to admit that you BELONG THERE. I lost the moment I walk into that door. I could not wait to get out of there. I had a glass of white wine as I waited for the lunch to go. We talked small talk. She asked when was the last time I went out? That was 8 March. She said wow, long time. I said yes. We talked more and the lunch appeared at the window. I paid the bill and left. I took a few more frames in the parking lot leaving but I really just wanted to go home.
I cannot think of a time I was this disappointed. Normally I meet other people, laugh, talk about conventions and general have a good time. This was miserable. I felt foolish and stupid.
In retrospect I think it was the whole mask thing. It smeared my make-up. I had no chance to relax. I normally spend at least an hour chatting. It was like being in a dream. I was in a place I had been many, many times before. I took pictures in that place. I had the chance to talk to strangers and tell them who I was. I had a chance to tell them my life experiences over a glass of wine. In short; I was living a life I thought I brought back with me from Europe. When I lived in Germany, my wife and I would spend hours at an open air restaurant, drink wine eat wonderful food and watch the sun set. It seems so distant now. So far away.
I am going to go out again? You can bet on it! I love presenting as a lady. It is part of me. I love to wear lady’s rain-wear. I love my Hunter Boots. I love my rubber dresses. I love my rubber maid uniforms. I love all of it and I am not ashamed. I am just a little disoriented in this new normal.