At the mall...

A couple days after my previous post, I had to make a run to the Western Shore of Chesapeake Bay to pick up some contact lenses,  and go to the mall to pick up some shoes that were in for work the nearby rural cobbler couldn't handle.

That morning, I put on an outfit similar to this,  with pantyhose instead of bare legs, and a pair of my flats instead of Mary Jane heels, and off I went.

After parking the car, I did some walking around inside the mall, not wearing a coat or sweater. (Yes, we had our 3 wonderful days of summer...now it seems we're headed into fall, with cooler  temperatures.  LOL!)     I noticed that the two annoying (or affirming) kiosk peddlers who had always accosted me about their cosmetics on every walk around the mall...were gone.  Yay!  Though to some extent I enjoyed their attention, nonetheless it was annoying, so I'm fine with their disappearance.

However, if it was attention I was seeking,  I received quite a bit of that...despite the peddlers' notable absence.   Standing outside a cell phone company store's door, waiting for them to open, was a small gaggle of people.  One was a 50something woman.  I was wearing my sunglasses, as sunlight was pouring through the skylights.

As I walked (and people-watched from behind my Foster Grants), I couldn't help but notice the woman's eyes immediately lock on to me like radar as I approached.  I observed her gaze follow me until I passed her, and as I approached a store with a properly aimed window glass, I stopped to window shop and observe her continue to watch me.  Probably two minutes later, with her never missing a beat, I said to myself..."To heck with it...I'm moving on."  And I did.  No doubt she watched me disappear down the hall until the buzzer rang and the store opened.

Such fun...

And at the cobbler's shop, I was properly addressed as "Ma'am."

Isn't life fun?

Mandy

Interesting

Things have been very quiet lately, and Mandy hasn't been out of the suitcase since January.  However, that doesn't stop my daily life in androgynous outfits.  My wife ordered two blouses on line, for delivery to the department store in a nearby town.  And on one of my visits to the nursing home, she asked me to pick up her purchase.

The last time she asked me to pick up a package for her, she had listed my real name (and husband status) as an authorized party to pick up.   This time, she didn't, because she had planned to pick it up.  But she gave me a copy of the email announcement that it was ready, and said she hoped they didn't ask for ID.  I reminded her that they hadn't the last time, and simply thought I was her.  I predicted that it would go well again.

When I got there (wearing stirrup pants, pantyhose, flats, turtleneck tunic and a sweater, with necklace and a bracelet),  I handed the email to a 20something clerk, and said (in a softer voice) that I'd like to pick up my order,  She went in the back and got the package.  She asked me if I wanted a bag, which I did.  Then as she put the package in the bag, she told me that she owns both blouses herself.  "You'll love them, they work well with your skirts as well as capris and shorts, and the colors will be perfect on you, (insert wife's given name here).  But if they don't fit, remember you can always exchange them for the proper size."  As I departed, she said "Thanks for shopping with us (insert wife's given name here.)"

Wow...but wait, there's more!

A few minutes later, after a short drive and while standing in the checkout line at the pharmacy (in the same town as Mom's nursing home), a 30-something woman and her approximately10 year old daughter (apparently a Downs syndrome baby) were there.  I thought I recognized them from seeing her at the nursing home a couple of times, but didn't give the subject another thought.

She looked up, smiled, and said "Hi, I'm ________'s mother!"   She apparently recognized me - but believed it was from seeing me at an exercise facility elsewhere in town.  I said that I remembered her from seeing them at the nursing home, and we chatted for a moment.

Then the little girl started to cuddle up to me, which I assured the mom "was not a problem,"  but her mom corrected her ("you don't cuddle up to other ladies, honey" ) despite additional assurances that I understood.   After being corrected, she then got shy and hid behind her mom...but as they departed her daughter turned around and gave me the cutest little wave and smile.  I hope I run into them again sometime...

After hearing our discussion, the clerk addressed me as "Ma'am" while she rang up my order...and thanked me for shopping there by using my wife's first name on the store card.

When I told my wife about my experiences, she said she really wasn't surprised, since "that happens quite often nowadays."  So I reminded her that she can "pass" as me (remember my given name is now female), it only makes sense for me to be able to "pass" as her.   And we both laughed as we concurrently said something to the effect of "as long as they don't ask for our ID!"

It was an unexpected - and very good - day!

Another dry spell...

...and that's not the weather.   It's simply being out and about, in my very androgynous wardrobe.   Unfortunately Mandy (skirts, full makeup and jewelry, etc) did not make any appearances...

The week after the ill-fated visit my cousin and her hubby made with me to see her aunt (my mom) at the nursing home,  I was in the hall after one of my daily visits.  The head of the kitchen saw me, and approached me from the back as I walked toward the exit.  "Ma'am?  Ma'am?"  I turned around and saw him, replying "Oh, sorry, Hi (insert name here)."  "Ma'am, I just wanted to know how the arrangements for your lunch worked out."  And I complimented the whole crew because everything worked exactly the way it was supposed to.  (Well, except Mom's issues, and they had nothing to do with that!)   I'm still not sure if he knows my real gender or just being politically correct, since we seldom see each other except in the hall...

And then recently, I had to go across the bay for an appointment and a series of errands...dressed like this (taken that morning):  

At the appointment, where I am known as a guy, what I was wearing didn't matter.  I was "Mr."   But I received several compliments there on my necklace and bracelet (which I told them were my mom's), and one on my nails.  I'll never argue those, even if they do know my true gender. 

At the first and second of the big box stores, clerks had no trouble determining that I was female.   And at a small specialty shop, I was "dear" to the male 20something clerk... the whole time.  Very affirming...

There will be more occasions...and I look forward to each and every one!

Mandy  

Happy Easter...

To all my readers:  Have a safe and joyous Easter holiday...

Mandy