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After almost 50 years of strutting around in my high heels, I've learned a few things. First is my ability to laugh now at what wasn't always so funny back then. I may have only been five or six, but I did wear my mother's shoes — what kid doesn't; it's cute. I'm not sure if being a crossdresser bears a rite of passage, but many of us have similar stories. I have always been able to laugh at my male self, but found more tears in my journey to become Brina than laughter. Today, Brina is mostly put together, better at passing, and deeply rooted in my psyche. She can even laugh at what has gotten us to this place in our lives.
But that one time …
My mother had found three dresses in my closet that I bought at a garage sale when I was in high school. They were buried deep and reason that she was in there at all is something I still don't know. Sometimes fate just has to bite us. I told her my friend was going to run away from home and wanted a disguise. It sounded good back then, and I thought I got away with it. I was scared, however, for months afterward worrying that my mother might ask me more about it. She never did. Now I laugh at the lie and realize the she might have figured they were mine. I have never have come out to her, or my father.
Or the time …
My ex-wife went to work only to come home thirty minutes later to find me wearing her prom dress. This was during our first year of marriage — back when I thought all I had was a fetish for high heels and slinky dresses. What makes this story funny is not being caught. That was a nightmare and became a wedge between us that never healed. My ex-wife ended the talk by telling me that if she ever caught me again, we'd be through. Twenty-two years later, she did and we were. What is hysterical is the fact that the dress was way too small and stuck on me. I had eyed that dress in her closet for nearly a year. That was just the day that I had to try it on, or should I say, to force it on. I felt beautiful wearing it with the zipper only two thirds of the way up. My ex-wife came home; I raced into the bathroom and could not get out of it. I ended up slipping and falling into the bathtub. She threw the dress away along with my shoes and the pair of her underwear which I was wearing. Did I stop, even after I promised her I would? You know the answer to that; I just got better at hiding it.
And then there was the time …
I had a few other narrow escapes during our marriage. Really, the marriage was over long before I was caught. Thank God for PO boxes and online shopping. Fourteen years ago, I ordered a pair of 8-inch white platform heel stripper shoes and a striped baby doll nightie. I was overweight, hairy everywhere including a beard, and totally stressed out. You know the drill — the more stress the more the need. I still had not come to terms with who I really was, believing that the brief moments when I would buy, wear, and dispose of my girly items were just a shameful part of me that I could not control. I also had a new digital camera. Stupid me thought let's take pictures and put them on the computer so I could get a better look at them. I even did some naughty poses — you know because you have to. Looking at photos on the computer did not bring satisfaction, only shame. I deleted them, emptied the recycle bin, and hid the shoes and lingerie in my golf bag. Yep, one picture wasn't deleted, and it absolutely had to be the worst one imaginable for my ex-wife to find. I wish I could have taken a picture of her face, both when she found it and when she told me about it. The first one was probably shock (I wasn't home), and the second one was gleeful evil as she kicked me out of the house. It is funny now, but it was the best thing that happened to me and should have happened sooner — not the pain of being caught, but getting out of a dead marriage. Brina was born after that and she has been nothing but a blessing since, even when I put her away for seven years to try another relationship. Her voice has always been the one telling me that I'm ok and to take it a day at a time.
I think we all have that one item that we cannot live without, at least not for very long. Mine has always been high heels. With size 12 men's feet, it has been a challenge, and having narrow feet besides, even more so. I have bought lots of shoes because I had to (they were calling to me), and they did not come close to fitting. Once during my marriage, I walked by a shop in a mall a dozen times before I found the courage to buy a pair off the rack. They had an ankle strap and closed heel and toe, but open in the middle. I made them fit, or should say, made my foot fit. I loved those shoes, keeping them for nearly five years. Over the years, I cut out the toes and part of the heel closure to give my foot some room. I cried when I snapped one of the heels and no amount of nailing and gluing would fix them.
When Brina started her wardrobe, the first pair of shoes she bought had 6-inch heels and no platform. I could sit and wear them, but not walk in them. In fact, I fell and twisted my ankle twice, which led to a couple of interesting stories. I wish that I still had the video of me trying to walk in them — it wasn't funny. I also would like to have any of the pictures that I took documenting Brina's arrival and her growth. Why? Perhaps, it is because I would love to laugh at them today. Unfortunately, I only kept my last four years worth. Just as adults can look back and laugh at themselves during their growing years, I am comfortable laughing at my own becoming. This journey has been more important; it's brought me closer to being a whole person and figuring out what real happiness can be.
Today, I am not alone, and I never will be again. It's possible that I will not find another person with whom to share my life and who accepts both parts of me, but it will not be that I won't look. If I don't, I will be at peace because there are many sisters out there who love to walk in the same pair of heels in which I do. And that is a comforting thought.
Brina
I could see myself in several of the situations you describe and others likely even more embarrassing, but I agree that it can be fun to reflect on my less comfortable day of expressing Cyn out in the world/ While I am by no means perfect, I have - I hope at least-improved at least a bit over the years in presenting as Cyn. Thanks for encouraging others by sharing your story!
Cyn
Brina,
Thanks for sharing and putting in perspective how time and acceptance (of who we are ourselves) can make us reflect on nervous situations we were in years ago.
And thanks for making me smile.
- Lea
Brina,
That was a wonderful set of stories. Like Cyn, I see a lot of myself there too, except the wife hasn't thrown me out. I wish I could find humor in the similar events in my life, but at the time I could only feel horrified by the thought of being caught. At least she knows, though I have to be very discreet as we have children who aren't in on Dad's secret as far as I know.
Thank you for bringing out the humor that we should all find in ourselves.
Penny
Brina,
Thanks, it never ceases to amaze me how much I get out of reading stories like the ones you've shared here. Could easily substitute my wife's reaction to finding my panties 15+ years ago and the caveat never again...yet here I am, hanging out on a CD website looking for fashion and makeup advice...relishing all things femme!
Thanks,
Kim
Hi Brina,
Thanks so much for sharing your stories. They were very entertaining and I really enjoyed reading them. Your writing style is lovely as I could visualize your Mom going through your closet, you falling into the tub, and you hiding lingerie in your golf bag. And of course, a story that can make me cry or in this case, make me laugh is just so wonderful.
Metaphorically, I love walking in your heels Sister (but figuratively I am only a size 9 men's shoe so buying pumps off the rack is really easy for me). Looking forward to hearing more about your journey.
Hugs,
Krista
I love your writing style Brina. And, you are right - sometimes humor is the best medicine for what ails us. Enjoy the rest of your journey.
Thank you Brina for sharing your history. I never had the experiences with my 1st 2 wives. They new my femme side somewhat and thot it a joke or a halloween thing. My mother never got upset about my dressing or my clothes unless she caught me in her own.
The lady I am with now has known about me as Connie since b4 we even met. My daughter showed her pics of me that her own daughter had taken. She showed Suzi as a joke, which ultimatly backfired.
life gad truly been full of suprizes...
Connie
Thank you Brina for a lovely post..... straight from the heart.... in a lighter vein.... but so nicely penned.
Vera Jane
That was a very cool story. Just when we think we are being sneaky,,,, so are our mother's. I will never forget all the reasons I came up with off the top of my head to tell my mother why I had makeup, heels and a thousand other things in my room all the time. It was after I told my sister everything that she came up with the story than she didn't have enough room in her bedroom so needed space from mine to put her things in. Thanks for reminding me of such memorable times. Loved your story.
Mothers are good at that. As a kid....you know they snoop thru everything! Maybe it was the perfume on the clothes???? True females have this inert desire to snoop into everyones business and seek out alternative gossip! I am doing an in-depth study on this phenomina and try to get to know what makes them tick. I know I am chasing windmills, but some items have been discovered. Stay tunes.....hopefully will help us become better women. Veronica
Hi Brina! Love your story!!! Very amusing. My ex was not amused with me either. This from a women who would not dress or be naked in the bedroom with lights on! Not only that....the apartment was on the 9th floor and window drapes had to be closed at all times because "an airplane" might see me !!!!! She wanted to be a nun until I came along...that lasted about 2 years. After 40 years stuck with her...ENOUGH, I am out-a-here. Now I can try to enjoy my life with what time I have left and to H with Mother Superior! Keep on keeping on sister!
Hi Brina!
I love your post, though I find it a little sad that your wife couldn't accept your dressing. My wife is not overwhelming joyed, but she accepts it beingn a part of me as long as I keep it discrete and she doesn' t have to participate. She's mostly a little yealous that I can still fit into her ball gown and wedding dress white she can't after 22 years and three children. Four years ago we had a small crisis when she found out I was sewing a full length fitted gown for myself. One night, the zipper got stuck and I had to ask her to help me get it down. That was the first time she saw the whole design, and later in bed she admitted that she had expected me to look ridculous, and instead found the gown look fabulous on me. A few dags ago, she needed to use the sewing machine and was a little startled when she found it loaded with red thread from my latest project. She happened to break the needle while trying to mend a tent and didn't bother to repade it. "There are replacements in the utility compartment in case you ned to sew something" she said then she put the machine away. And the other night she didn't say a word then I stood there pressing the seams of the red dress then she went to bed.
Marianne,
First, I'm jealous of your sewing ability. I've never learned. Tolerance is the next best thing to acceptance. I have no idea the path that would have been if the ex had been tolerant. The sad thing is that she and I were the type of people that married each other for all the wrong reasons and tried to make it work, and then once the kids came, turned our focus on them. My dressing wouldn't have changed all the other negative things. If she saw me in my pictures today....whoaaaa would she be spitting mad. She wouldn't be able to fit into my dresses and she can't walk in heels.... sometimes there are little wins....
Have a great day and thanks for sharing,
Brina
Thank you Brina.
A little about my sewing experience.
My mother always claimed she wouldn't let her children leave home without some basic abilities. Those included cooking three different meals, bake a cake and keep our clothes clean and proper. She was then, and still is, a very competent seamstress, who for economical reasons learned to redesign old clothes given by relatives for her own use in her early teens. She more than once told us the story how her textile teacher, well aware of her circumstances, one spring called her to stay after class. She then retrieved a bolt of new cloth, handed it to the young girl and said "This shall NN sew herself a skirt from". So we all learned some basic sewing and knitting as well. And sometimes I helped her laying out the patterns or making fitting adjustments. She later on sewed me a tuxedo that I wore to a ball together with my fiancee, and then again at our wedding. She also sewed parts of the wedding gown, that was a gift from my sister, who by then had her private sewing business. The conclusion of this story is that I really came to know my way around patterns and needles but sadly had no chance to make the clothes I was dreaming of. Many years later, I suddenly saw my dream gown on a Swedish buy and sell site on the Internet. Sadly it was only a size 8, but the ad also mentioned it was home sewn. After some serching, I found the pattern and a nice brown satin duchesse at a fabric retailer. The pattern was from Germany based Burda and was followed by excellent multilingual instructions covering everything from measuring yourself through cutting out the pieces unto putting it all together. I started cutting cloth and sewing in secret, but slowly my wife became aware of my activities and started questioning my actions and wondering whenever I would have the possibility to wear such an outfit. I was however allowed to finish it since only the sleeves and bottom hemline remained unfinished. The aftermath, eventually causing most of my collected clothing, shoes etc end up at Salvation Army is a story for another rainy day.
Marianne
Hi brina! That is a beautiful story about the high heels. For myself I live in constant fear that I will be caught in my panties and stockings. I live alone and those fears follow me everyday. Without the clothes I become depressed and the anxiety escalates. I will not stop because the dressing gives me the security and calm that we need. My days of fighting it are long gone. I love hearing stories like yours. It gives me reinforcement that I am ok and a special human being. We all have to stay strong and love each other. The best to you! Jennifer
Jennifer,
Thanks for your comment! You are spot on about the anxiety that builds when NOT being able to dress. I agree about the depression. It's worse not dressing than it is to be dressed and worry about being exposed or having someone find our things. The hardest thing I had to come to terms with is this: I am a decent human being and what I wear on the outside has nothing to do with the kindness I share, the heart that I bare, or the love that I can give.
Stay proud, stay strong.
Brina
That is so true cuz I've had my daughter now for 2 weeks and I haven't been able to do anything and I feel like drug addict feinding got that moment I can put my nails. Walk in my heels and put a little skirt ..yes I said little skirt .tho my dressing has evolved at this moment I am so ready to look like a hooker lmfao
I LOVE crazy high heels and I'm damn good at walking in them. I was in high school 98 to 02 when the Spice Girls were doing their thing. I hated their music but still paid close attention so I could always see what platforms they were wearing. And then for the last couple years platforms have come back a bit but now they're tapering off again. That means chasing down all the shows I've coveted over the last couple years on eBay and Poshmark since they aren't made anymore.
Hi Brina,
That is a very insightful story. I have come to similar conclusions about my own behavior reguarding stress. I am a part time crossdresser and my wife and therapist are encouraging me to find some like minded friends to spend some time with to get the validation that I am looking for. It is difficult when you are looking for a reasonably attrective person but not interested in a sexual relationship.
Charliene
