THERE COMES A TIME
by Denise Mason
I can clearly remember my first TV meeting at a motel in S. Windsor CT, for the Hartford TVIC club meeting. Gawd, that must have been somewhere around 1968, and I was 28 years old, married and never met another TV face to face.
I got the name of the motel, but neglected to get the room number. I knew I couldn't go to the front desk and ask, "Where are the Transvestites meeting," so I had no other choice but to walk the motels hallways whispering... 'Suzanne... Suzanne' over and over.
Luckily a 'sister' TV saw my pathetic attempt to make contact, and she dragged me into the correct motel room. It so happens that this savior was also a Connecticut State Policeman, and luckily he wasn't wearing his uniform or that might have ended my attempt to meet my sisters.
From that initial meeting, to another and another, I became the Hartford TVIC's Newsletter Editor and one of the 'Founding Daughters' of that group. God rest Suzanne Wallace, our fearless leader who eventually had reassignment surgery, but passed away quite prematurely. From those days in the early 1970's, when we were younger, slimmer and maybe more naive... to today... I wonder if I ever thought there would come a time that we would be not have the interest to crossdress?
It's 30 years later, and we have gained a few pounds, our hair is grayer and we tend to wear more colorful wigs and clothes. Are we trying to look younger... for who wants to buy an old ladies gray wig and wire rim glasses. But then , there comes a time. And who know!
It's been a good life and fortunately I have been able to dress almost any time I cared to. Yes, I had children, which I thought I was hiding my crossdressing from... but they knew and didn't say anything when I hid in the playroom pretending to work. Maybe because I dressed so frequently back in those days... 3 to 4 times a week year round... that now, when I'm retired and home alone with not much to do... dressing isn't so important. It's even difficult getting interested to dress for a club meeting, and often comes the time when sitting home and watching the Knicks is more interesting than pretending to be young and sexy in some smoky bar. I remember the time when smoky noisy bars were something I looked forward to.
There comes a time when you see more clearly than ever, who and what is important. Thank God we do reach that level, because some of us took living quite matter-of-factly. I see the TVs who struggle with their marriages, lying daily to their wives and families. If only they could have been honest in the very beginning or broke down and told their spouse during their marriage... life would have been less stressful, for both partners. There comes a time when many can't hide it any longer, and they have experienced nervous breakdowns, or marital problems because the wife suspects worse things than what are really happening. A simple traffic violation or fender bender opens closet doors before we are ready to reveal who we are... but wouldn't it have been better had honesty prevailed years earlier?
Yes, I was fortunate in having told my spouse that I was a TV before we were married, for there was no stress because of my 'hobby.' Showing love and appreciation to a spouse who 'knows,' is easier, non-hypocritical and honest. For she is giving acceptance and understanding... and she is the important person in your life, not that 'girl' who hides in paper bags and boxes. If only all our sisters could realize, that inevitably, there comes a time when they will reveal themselves... that they wouldn't waste any more time... and do it now!
Those interested in contacting us please write:Denise Mason,
connecticuT View
P.O. Box 2281,
Devon, CT 06460
If anyone reads this page, would you please e-mail me that you did read it as I would like to count the number of times this page is read.
email; us at masonD@aol.com Membership is $25 a year.