Friday (04/18/08) I had gone to Philadelphia for a Photoshop seminar. It turned out that it was more for graphic artists than for photographers so it was like a whole new area of study.As I was on the train on the way up we had made a number of stops, on one of the first ones I notice a blond woman and a middle eastern gentleman board the train, but never paid any attention to them. I used the rest room before we got into Philly because I wasn't sure where they were or if I would be able to used the lady's without difficulty. As I was closing the door to go back to my seat I heard two people call my name, I turned and it was the couple who had boarded earlier, turned out it was a woman I've known for over 20 years that I race bike with, but with her being out of cycling clothes and helmet I never recognized her, but she had seen pictures of me and I tend to have an unforgettable look so they recognized me. I offered the woman my card but her companion a emergency room doctor took it and said he wanted to invite me to his house parties because we knew many of the same people.
Well, I finally get to the Philadelphia Convention Center and the schedule was an hour later than what was on the ticket, so I had time to kill. I went to the Terminal Market that has many Pennsylvania Dutch vendors and got a bagel with cream cheese, the lady's were very polite and the one who waited on me insisted she toast my bagel while she made small talk with me.
When I finally got into the conference hall I wanted to sit near the front, but all the isle seats were taken, I chose to sit where a late 30's early 40's man sitting one seat over, I didn't want to make him uncomfortable or make it look as if I was "cruising" which I don't do. About 5 minuets later a middle aged attractive lady asked if that seat between us was vacant and I offered it to her. The guy sitting on her right started a conversation with her about her reason for being at the seminar, which happened to be the same as mine (photography) he mentioned he was a GA, he asked what camera she owned and I commented I owned the same brand, she all of a sudden started to ignore the other person and started conversing with me even through some of the seminar. She asked me if I would mind if she contacted me after wards so I gave her my card.\
I just can't understand why in most cases, when I'm Louise, people are always gracious towards me and even go out of their way to be polite and even make gestures that I have never received as Lou, I have to admit, I have often been alone and thought about it or talked with my wife about how kind people are to Louise and have had tears in my eye's. I had asked my wife one time, I wonder how my life would have been if I were not born Lou, and have just sobbed because of knowing how hard Lou struggled to be able to be accepted as a human being.
After an hour we were offered a break, I needed the rest room bad. I was going to use the lady's but as you know it was packed and I just didn't need some hysterical woman yelling FIRE if she saw me walk in there and made me as a male in a dress. I then proceeded into the men's room short hallway, as I did a man said loudly "Ma'am you're going into the men's room, I ignored him and as I opened the door another man was pulling from the inside and looked right into my eye's and said "Miss this is the men's room, I smiled, another man behind the first one yelled the same thing, I turned and smiled. I waited in a line for a stall, a few men turned to looked then must have figured me out, I finally got into a stall and could hear a few commenting that a lady was in the stall. It was a hoot.
I forgot to mention, on the way into the main terminal up the escalator into the train station there were about 5 police with machine guns and then a few using wands and searching passengers luggage who were going onto a train, the Pope apparently was traveling or possibly the presidential candidates. I was waved by (go figure).
I got a taxi back to the train station and was sitting waiting for my train to board, a black lady walked by and obviously recognized my gender, she put her belongings on the other side of the isle and then came over to me and offered her business cards, she's a casting director and has worked with Bill Crosby and asked me to send some head shots and a resume, but I doubt anything will come of it, but again it was a gesture Lou would have never received.
Well, I finally get to the Philadelphia Convention Center and the schedule was an hour later than what was on the ticket, so I had time to kill. I went to the Terminal Market that has many Pennsylvania Dutch vendors and got a bagel with cream cheese, the lady's were very polite and the one who waited on me insisted she toast my bagel while she made small talk with me.
When I finally got into the conference hall I wanted to sit near the front, but all the isle seats were taken, I chose to sit where a late 30's early 40's man sitting one seat over, I didn't want to make him uncomfortable or make it look as if I was "cruising" which I don't do. About 5 minuets later a middle aged attractive lady asked if that seat between us was vacant and I offered it to her. The guy sitting on her right started a conversation with her about her reason for being at the seminar, which happened to be the same as mine (photography) he mentioned he was a GA, he asked what camera she owned and I commented I owned the same brand, she all of a sudden started to ignore the other person and started conversing with me even through some of the seminar. She asked me if I would mind if she contacted me after wards so I gave her my card.\
I just can't understand why in most cases, when I'm Louise, people are always gracious towards me and even go out of their way to be polite and even make gestures that I have never received as Lou, I have to admit, I have often been alone and thought about it or talked with my wife about how kind people are to Louise and have had tears in my eye's. I had asked my wife one time, I wonder how my life would have been if I were not born Lou, and have just sobbed because of knowing how hard Lou struggled to be able to be accepted as a human being.
After an hour we were offered a break, I needed the rest room bad. I was going to use the lady's but as you know it was packed and I just didn't need some hysterical woman yelling FIRE if she saw me walk in there and made me as a male in a dress. I then proceeded into the men's room short hallway, as I did a man said loudly "Ma'am you're going into the men's room, I ignored him and as I opened the door another man was pulling from the inside and looked right into my eye's and said "Miss this is the men's room, I smiled, another man behind the first one yelled the same thing, I turned and smiled. I waited in a line for a stall, a few men turned to looked then must have figured me out, I finally got into a stall and could hear a few commenting that a lady was in the stall. It was a hoot.
I forgot to mention, on the way into the main terminal up the escalator into the train station there were about 5 police with machine guns and then a few using wands and searching passengers luggage who were going onto a train, the Pope apparently was traveling or possibly the presidential candidates. I was waved by (go figure).
I got a taxi back to the train station and was sitting waiting for my train to board, a black lady walked by and obviously recognized my gender, she put her belongings on the other side of the isle and then came over to me and offered her business cards, she's a casting director and has worked with Bill Crosby and asked me to send some head shots and a resume, but I doubt anything will come of it, but again it was a gesture Lou would have never received.
1 comment:
Hi Louise,
I am envious of you...your beauty...your fearlessness...your passion for others. I love to read about your exploits and the day-to-day life experiences that you detail in your blog.
I am a 50 plus year old cd who like you found lingerie in mom's drawers and used them starting at a early age. They continue to be a comfort to me...a turn on for me...and a calming balm for my soul. I work in the medical profession and thus have remained extremely closeted and will likely stay that way given the circumstances. Sometime, if you are in Philly...I'd love to meet...take you out for a drink or dinner and listen to your life experiences in person.
Thanks for your blog...thanks for the pretty pictures...thank you for being you.
fran
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