Happy surprises can come at the strangest and at unexpected times. I am a closeted CDer and 70 years old. Opportunities to dress have been limited over this long life of mine. I lost my first marriage when my ex- found my stash (bra, panties, and heels.) This led to a long and painful divorce, after which I went crazy on my own, buying all sorts of girl things; bras, panties, hose, dresses, shoes, breast forms, wig and makeup. I would dress nearly every evening after work and lounge around my townhouse en femme. *Glorious!*
One night, I even ventured out to my local post office while fully dressed. I didn’t get any reaction at all! This lasted for about four months until I met a wonderful woman and married her. Because of my fears from the first marriage, I purged everything—I still regret this! We’ve been married for almost 20 years. She doesn’t know Lorrie exists, and I’m not too keen on opening up that can of worms. She’s sort of conservative (not politically) in that respect. So, my dressing time had been limited to her being out of town.
A few years ago, however, we were on a European vacation and staying outside of Paris. I had just done our laundry and was folding the clothing. She had a pretty pink cotton nightgown in the clothes’ pile. I picked it up and held it against me. I asked if this color looked good on me. She laughed and said yeah. I put it on. She said, “Wait, are you a crossdresser?” I replied, “Is that a problem?” By this time, I was having a major reaction to wearing the gown, which led to a wonderful and joyous night! Afterwards, she said I could keep your nightgown for future purposes.
Happy Surprise!Â
On that same trip, in another hotel, we were going out to dinner. As we got into the elevator she kissed me. Stepping back, she looked at me and said, “I need to kiss you again because you need some color on your lips!” WOW! She was using a European lip-gloss she’d bought in Copenhagen, and it transferred very nicely to me! In the elevator mirror, I had a hint of red on my lips!
Happy Surprise!
In January of this year, we joined a spa and salon which offered three services to choose from each month: a massage, a mani-pedi or a facial. For the first couple of months, I opted for the massages, and then in March, my wife said I should try a mani-pedi. I was a bit shocked at this suggestion, but I figured, why not? I jokingly said I’d get them polished, whereupon she responded with as long as it wasn’t red or bright pink. WOW! So, the first time I had my nails manicured, and the tech started buffing them, my heart was beating rapidly. I asked the tech to please use clear polish. She smiled and said sure. She painted me with a top coat which gave the nails a nice shine.
When I got home, I showed my wife and got her okay. Sweet! Then in June, I decided to go a bit bolder. I asked the tech to use something neutral/nude on my nails. She offered OPI’s Put it in Neutral as a color. I agreed and she did me up—fingers and toes. Back home, I got the approval once again. This past Wednesday, I decided to kick it up a bit, asking the tech to use OPI’s Dulce de leche, a richer pink on my toes. I was a bit nervous coming home, but was happily surprised when I was told my nails looked beautiful!
Happy Surprise!
Where this leads is anyone’s guess. I am thinking seriously of asking her to dress me up as a woman for Halloween (something I’ve never done…probably the only CDer who’s not dressed for this holiday!). We’ll see.
After all these years, I’ve learned Happy Surprises can happen! Seventy years of struggling with being “different” has evolved into Happy Surprises!
Keep the faith, my sisters!
More Articles by Kathryn Lynn Peters
- Where Do I Go From Here?
- What Drives Our Need To Be Out In Public?
- Halloween, The Night I Lost My Monster
Lorrie,
Happy surprises, indeed! As I’ve said before, wives can be strange but wonderful creatures. My “outing" to mine was also gradual: first, ladies’s tees, then shoes and panties. When she needed help with her toenails, I did both of ours. She has since given her permission for nighties and skirts at home, and didn’t object to my first ever makeover. We have recently talked a bit about the subject of crossdressing, and she just gave me a pearl necklace which she has had for years, but never wears.
Thank you, Bettylou for your story. And yes, wives can be strange but wonderful creatures! I am coming to a point where if I approach it gently, she may indulge in doing makeup on me. She recently took me to her stylist for a haircut (my hair is getting quite long) and asked the girl to style me. The next day, she taught me how to blow dry so my hair looks feminine! So, now with my styled hair and my polished nails, it’s time for makeup! I’ll update if and when that happens. Again, thanks for your response! Hugs… Read more »
Lovely ending or maybe i should say beginning
Thanks for your comments, Jack. I’m hoping this will be an exciting time in my life!
Hugs and love,
Lorrie
What a wonderful story ,sometimes wishes do come true ,I myself have found a wonderful woman who expects my crossdressing..we plan on going out for Halloween again this year !
I hope things work out for the two of you.
It’s so nice to have the freedom to dress up or even whare something feminine with out having to hide it !
Good luck and lots
Of love !
Pippi
Thank you, Pippi! I am thrilled that my wife condones my mani-pedi and there is hope for a bit more glamour in my life!
Again, thanks and tons of hugs!
Lorrie
Lorrie, Thanks for sharing your “happy surprises" story with your wife. She is one of a kind and that she supports your CD is so special.. As Bettylou mentioned, “wives can be strange but wonderful creatures" . For example, my wife accepted my request to try on one of her panties…. The next day we went shopping for my own…three pair of panties, cami’s, pantyhose and thigh highs… As you can imagine, shopping together was so special .. We went together on her monthly schedule for a manicure.. During our manicure, a neighbor walked in. Kathy was more embarrassed than… Read more »
Leonara,
Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your story with me! You are so fortunate that she indulged you…to a point… and was so good to you in your time of need. I hope more fun times are ahead for both you and me. Thanks again!
Hugs,
Lorrie
Your welcome & I do Honestly wish the best for you-
Yes, Wives (along with life) Can be Wonderfully Confusing- The unexpected twists & turns in life Can be amazing)- My wife (who recently died) “literally" grew up in the Salvation Army church—but knew there was more to life than the church—-She was told by mutual Friends about the time we first met that I had been into the swinging lifestyle–She became almost obsessed with it—we started dating & We tried it together—This “Church Lady" jumped in with Both feet—-Meeting people with very open minds helped her to have an open mind herself–Now–I’ve wore panties (or no underwear) since I was… Read more »
Hi Janedon, thanks for the kind words and your wonderful story!
Hugs,
Lorrie
Hi Lorrie, my wife and I have been married for over 47 years. She has had suspicions since the first year. We played the – don’t know, don’t tell – game for years. Finally, about 16 years ago I had enough and told her I was a Crossdresser. She said she knew and had come to the realization it was just part of who I am. Our life together is much better since. I knew it was going to be ok when, right after I told her, she bought gave me a bag for my birthday. In the bag I… Read more »
Hi Carolyn,
Thanks for giving me hope for the future… we’ve been married 20 years and I suspect she has a clue, but has not pushed it. She’s been nudging me to do certain things like the mani-pedis, facials etc. So who knows? Again, thanks for your input!
Hugs,
Lorrie
Great story. I’m a 51 y/o closet dresser and have been of and on for most of my life. I’m on my third marriage, neither of the first two ended from me dressing, as a matter of fact my second wife warmed up to the idea and took me shoe shopping and did my toenails and we played dress up and humiliation as part of our sex life. It was great. It was for other reasons we split up. I met my current wife 16 years ago and we’ve been married for 12 years. She knows that during the cold… Read more »
Sindie,
Thanks for a wonderful reply to my story. Love the “Macho Man" schtick For most of my life, I avoided any appearance of interest in feminine things. But at this point, my philosophy is WTF? Enjoy what and who you are. I don’t know how far I’ll be able to go so I’ll just drift with the current!
Thanks for reading my story and for sharing yours!
Lorrie
As Gomer Pyle would say: “Surprise, surprise, surprise", Good for you Lorrie Kay! I wanted to share with you that I was way to scared to share my ‘femme’ side with my ex-wife, and never did. So when I found someone new after my divorce, I knew I had to come clean. I told that person, not long after we met, that I enjoyed cross dressing as a woman. I took the time to explain what cross dressing was and even printed information from the internet. I was tired of hiding ‘Vanessa’. That person is now my wife. She is… Read more »
Thanks for your kind words, Vanessa! As an update, about a week ago, I told her I wanted to dress up for Halloween…the first time I’ve worn a costume since 1968! Since all we’re doing is handing out candy to the neighborhood kids, she asked me was I going to be a pirate or a gypsy. I said I wanted to be Elphaba from the play Wicked. She said go for it. I ordered my costume, wig, makeup and stockings. Today, she said we need to buy red lipstick and eye makeup to complete the look! And she will do… Read more »
Hello Lorri what a lovely heart warming story, what a loving and understand wife you have got, I hope you have a lot more girly times together love and hugs too you both xxx
Thank you, Tammy!
Congrats Lorrie. My ex was neither accepting nor even tolerant (which is the main if not the only reason she is my EX.). You are doing the right thing by going gradual with the dressing and giving her time to adjust. And BTW you are NOT the only CD/TG who has never dressed for Halloween.. I never have-first because I thought I’d look ridiculous and in the last ten years because I’d look acceptable enough that folks who don’t know about Cyn would decide that I was a little TOO comfortable and acceptable in the clothes and makeup lol.
Cyn
LOL Cyn! Now I don’t feel so all alone or unique… Appreciate your comments very much. As an update, I am *finally* dressing as a witch (Elphaba from “Wicked") this Thursday. Costume and accessories have all arrived and I did a dry run of dressing for my wife. She said she liked it! So, after a fashion, this may be a bit of a breakthrough for me. She’ll do my makeup (like Kermit said, it’s not easy being green 😉 ) Thanks again for your words and for reading my story. Love it here at CDH!!!
Lorrie