A Newcomer Visits Be-All '97

By Dianne Sprague


Have you ever had so much fun that you become euphoric, spending just days doing something you've wanted to do all your life? That's what going to the '97 Be All was like for me.

My first time out was to travel 600 miles to attend a meeting of Crossroads Chapter of Detroit in March. (I live in a very remote area.) I had a really good time there and decided I needed more experiences like it. That's also where I found out about the Be All. When I got home I contacted Denise at Chi-Triess by e-mail and had her send information on the event and the application forms. Then I had to wait for WEEKS until the time finally came.

I arrived at the hotel Wednesday afternoon, registered at the desk and had all my stuff hauled up to the room (three suitcases, two hanging bags, two shopping bags and a pile of assorted Stuff.) Do women always travel with so much junk? Well, I'd been on the road for two weeks and had to travel with two wardrobes. I immediately changed out of my 'guy' clothes into a great wrap skirt and blouse, threw on some makeup and was ready to go. I put the guy stuff in one suitcase and hid it in the back of the closet till it was time to leave. It was like pulling teeth to change back to guy stuff when I had to leave.

The events started off with a pizza party and pool party, and each day there were three workshops going on at the same time throughout the day. I wanted to get to all of them, but settled on the ones I thought would most benefit me. Each day was broken up with two workshops in the morning, lunch at noon (always something good), and two more workshops in the afternoon. Thursday I attended workshops on Deportment and Modeling by Eve and Carole Burchert,( this was a series and I wanted to attend all of them, but couldn't. Oh well, maybe next time.) Reconciling the two sides by Dr. Richard Doctor, Discovering Your Femme voice, Amanda Richards substituted for this one and did an excellent job, (This is another area where I need practice, practice, practice) Coming Out to Yourself and Others by Dr. Sandra Samons.

That night was a dinner cruise on Lake Michigan. We all changed for dinner and met the busses outside the hotel. I wore this smart green career type out fit I'd picked up on sale. On the bus I met Dr. Dorothy Haswel of London Ontario, who deals with limiting the consequences of anger and hostility. We had a very pleasant conversation while riding the bus. But when we got down town we thought the driver was lost because we passed the same land marks several times. I would have been completely lost. One question Dorothy asked me was did I think I would have a difficult time returning to the way things were when I got home. I told her I probably would and that it always seems to be more difficult to get something back in the box once you've taken it out. I didn't realize just how difficult it would be till I got home and started writing.

We all got on the boat and found seats for dinner. I joined a couple of the girls I had met earlier, Christie and Lowla, who were from near home. The boat pulled away from the dock, and made its way down the river to the lake. As we ate roast beef, vegetable, and stuffing we passed in front of the skyline of the down town area. As the sun set the lights of the buildings and streets came on to create a very beautiful scene from the water. Eventually we returned to the dock and all made our way back to the busses. I had signed up earlier to stay downtown and go to a night club in the district, but I was much too tired and my contacts were killing me. I rode back to the hotel with Sandra Samons and discovered how she had become interested in working with transgendered folk almost by accident. When we got back to the hotel, I had a drink with some of the others and chatted before heading back up to my room.

Friday I sat in on Meeting People: Verbal and Non-verbal Communications by Rachel Crandal, Transitioning at Work as a panel discussion (I needed to sit in on this one since it something I've been thinking of doing, but I also wanted to get to Modeling II. Oh frustration!) Discovering Your Femme Voice Part II with Rachel Crandal subbing, and The Michigan Program by Sandra Cole. I had stopped in earlier and talked to Fay Bass with Mary Kay, and had made an appointment to meet her at lunch time, but we didn't connect. So, I went back later and got a make up lesson and looked over her Mary Kay products. She put me through the whole routine with cleanser, freshener,(I had to run up to my room to shave with no make up on!)then we walked through the rest of the process. I thought I had done a good job before, but Fay taught me how to use blush so it wouldn't make my face look as long. She also helped me choose some great colors to go with the dress I was going to wear to dinner. (I had thought about having a make-over, but couldn't schedule it in) When the make up was done Fay also did up my hair for me. I felt really good, and thought I looked great. (I even got a couple compliments later from people I hadn't met before. Thanks Fay!) I ran back up to my room and changed into this cute sheath dress I'd gotten from Victoria's Secret. This was one of the shortest things I've ever worn, but I HAD to have it, and it felt great on. I put on my tallest heels and was ready to party.

After all that I made it down to dinner just in time to find one of the few empty seats. That night was dinner and the 'Gong' show. It just happened that I sat next to some guy 'Dan' who it turned out was a reporter for a local paper. We talked a bit over dinner and he asked if he could interview me later. I said OK, and after Rachel did her 'World's Worst Transexual Magician' act (where she had to gong herself) and a number of other acts, some good and some worth gonging, I met Dan at the bar for the interview. The girls had all worked hard on their acts, and some were excellent. Amanda and her music group were very entertaining, and Honey West's MCing brought it all together.

I talked with Dan for over an hour, and he took some pictures of me and some of the other gals. I also introduced him to Rachel, and we all talked for over an hour more, Saturday as part of his article he was going to get a make over and join us en-femme. Afterwards I ran into Christie and a couple others, we had another drink or so, and eventually I decided it late and time to retire. I don't know how it works, but I guess when you're having so much fun you don't need much sleep. I don't think I ever went to bed before two am, and got up around six.

Saturday I went to Appropriate and Realistic Expectations of Therapy by Sandra Samons, and First Time Out and the Need to Pass by Richard Doctor. After lunch I couldn't leave with out saying good bye to at least some of the great folks I'd met. I also caught up with Dan who was 'Danielle' for the day and looked great. We talked a bit, took a couple more pictures, shared hugs, and then I had to say good bye. I really hated to leave since that night was to be the formal dinner dance that I would have loved to attend.

Finally I dashed back up to my room, changed back into my 'guy' stuff and hit the road. I'd decided not to travel en-femme since I would have to travel through some rough country, and you never know what can happen. All in all, the best part of the whole event was that I met a couple girls from my part of the country (which as I said is pretty remote), we're keeping in touch, and going to try to get together once in a while at a club that's central to all of us. Many, many thanks to all the gals at Chi-Triess, and the other groups that co-sponsored the event. I hope I can see you all again next year at Be-All 98 in Pittsburgh!!


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