Hello from a new old member.

Paulette · Post by **Paulette** » Thu May 10, 2012 10:02 pm

After reading of some of your experiences I find that, once again I'm fairly typical, and once again my story is quite different. Regardless, I'm quite happy to be here and hope I'll be able to help others. I've already gained insight and encouragement from this forum, and know there will be more.

First, I'm a very active and healthy seventy-one, and am just now coming out. My new wife (Jan 1st) has known from our second date, a year before we married. My 43yo son has known for about ten months. And some of my friends have found out from casual conversation in the last year, or at gatherings where one of the group has a large collection of female dress-up clothing and costumes which most of the men try on at her parties.

My wife has always been very supportive, to the point of enthusiasm and active assistance in shopping and make-up. Previous wives were grudgingly accepting at best. (Keep in mind that acceptance of alternative life styles may have been touted in the sixties, but was not really the rule for the majority of Americans until very recently.) The first marriage lasted about 2 years, and the second lasted for 40 years, until she died in 2008.

Like most cross dressers I think of myself as decidedly male with a strong female aspect that periodically insists on being recognized. And like most cross dressers (as opposed to gender changers and drag queens), I get quite excited when dressing up. I know people have strong preferences in the terms they prefer, so I use these titles quite without bias or prejudice, simply to explain myself and not to categorize anyone else.

My introduction to CD was around age ten. Around age 12 I was caught, first by my parents with my mother's underwear, and then by the police with lingerie looted in the night from many neighborhood clotheslines. The result of this was my being put in a locked ward for the mentally disturbed and being given electroconvulsive "therapy" treatments for several months, at first twice weekly, and then once a week, then once every two weeks until I was discharged after about 6 months.This was the generally accepted best treatment for my "disorder" at the time. Thank the FSM that times have changed. I hope no one else here was subject to that treatment, but if anyone was I'll be glad to share experiences and coping strategies with them, privately or on the Board.

I'll stop here and give everyone a moment to recover from my life-spew. I'm a writer, editor, and publisher, as well as an enthusiastic blogger and habitue of Usenet and now Facebook, so I usually rattle along too much and too easily. My apologies in advance, and my anticipation of what I hope will be a long and happy residence here.

Anita · Post by **Anita** » Fri May 11, 2012 1:19 am

Hi Paulette--
It's good to see another Bay area gal on here. The electroshock therapy sounds awful. It's nice to hear about acceptance from wife and friends, though.

I haven't been to Usenet for years--the transgender forums on there seemed to be overrun by trolls, and I stopped going.
I'm sorry I was not hip enough to get on the Well when it first opened up.

I started going out in public before I had good Internet access, so I had no idea that there were others out there. The Web may not make it any easier to come out, but at least a person has company along the way through their life. I'm not sure what youngsters do, though--anything to do with gender or crossdressing is blocked by parental controls.

Paula G · Post by **Paula G** » Fri May 11, 2012 2:38 am

Hi Paulette and

from a fellow blogger, how about a link to your blog?

Carly · Post by **Carly** » Fri May 11, 2012 7:25 am

Welcome Paulette,
Thanks for your view on things. It was not too long for my tastes.

Anthony Simon · Post by **Anthony Simon** » Fri May 11, 2012 9:17 am

Welcome, Paulette. I wouldn't worry about how much you say. Like I'm sure you know, it's more to do with the way you say it...

Leeza · Post by **Leeza** » Fri May 11, 2012 12:41 pm

Hi. Paulette, and

to our home on the internet.

Leeza

Domonique · Post by **Domonique** » Fri May 11, 2012 3:32 pm

Hi Paulette,
Love your story. Don't worry about saying alot. Even I get carried away once in awhile. Hope to chat with you. Welcome to the best place on the net.

SilverLady(SO) · Post by **SilverLady(SO)** » Fri May 11, 2012 8:42 pm

Hi, Paulette, and welcome to the Forum!

- SL

Kyra · Post by **Kyra** » Thu May 17, 2012 7:11 am

HI Paulette!

I'm glad that you found this wonderful place. I hope you like it here.

Hugs,
Kyra

Post by **DonnaT** » Sun May 20, 2012 5:46 am

Hi Paulette,

aboard.

ErinS · Post by **ErinS** » Sun May 20, 2012 11:45 pm

HI welcome to the site. I am new here my self but so far it seems preatty good

April Rose · Post by **April Rose** » Mon May 21, 2012 8:29 pm

Hello, Paulette,and welcome! It is always good to get a new point of view.

Crossdressers-Haven.com

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