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| Providing for the personal growth and fulfillment of those whose lives are affected by crossdressing |
 OTHER ISSUES December
2008
Newsletter |
May 2009
CONTENTS
[Alpha
Omega]- Why Now- Lynn Edwards (Just click on the bracketed title [xxxxx] above to go directly to an article.)
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The is the first AO Newsletter a while. For a long time I took great pride in the regularity of our newsletter. Events in my life have made it a lower priority, and we have had no one ready to take over. It's not that it's all that hard to put a newsletter together or run the website...but we all have waves and cycles in our lives, and mine has been on an ebb, not from my life as something-approximating-a-woman, but from the chores associated with the 'community'.- Diane
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I have been sitting here at the dining room table for a time now trying to come up with an idea for a newsletter article. Though I had started a few, none have really been what I wanted, so they have been discarded. I could tell you more stories of times in my life, but nothing has really sparked my interest. Nor do I find myself with any profound wisdom to try and point out to others. At least at the moment, my mind is not settled on any great topic to write about. That has happened many times over the last twenty years of my writing newsletter articles. To say the least, it is very frustrating when I really would like to write something. Writing stories about my past has filled a lot of pages over the years. My past has had its moments. I have also often expressed my opinions on cross dressing and the aspects of being transgendered. I have at times told my thoughts about not confusing tolerance with acceptance. More than one article I have written has dealt with trying to find humor in our all too human experience, or wondering about whether a group like AO is still relevant. Are there really about seven and a half million cross dressers in the U.S. alone? Or is that number really very much smaller and much more secret? I don’t feel any great need to go out in public, but others do. Each has its own merit. I am not a church-goer, but I like to think I am as Christian as many. Politically I am a conservative, but even I do have a liberal thought or two. I listen to CNN, MSNBC and Fox news. Twenty years ago when I joined AO, my life was in a shambles. Alpha Omega was a lifeline for me. From that start, I began on a journey of discovery to find out who I was and could be, not only as Gloria, but as a restart for Martin, as well. Being human, I am still on that journey of discovery. I have seen a melding of Gloria and Martin in many ways, but know the differences as they apply to me, my wife, my family, and others in my life. My clothing doesn’t make me Gloria or Martin. Kathy can tell you when I’m around, even if I do look like Martin or vice versa. If going to a club is someone’s cup of tea, then all the power to them. I’d rather have a cup of tea in the company of friends who really do know me. I have worked for twenty years to keep the doors of Alpha Omega open for one reason. I have wanted everyone who has entered our doors to find that start for themselves on their own journey of discovery, as the human being they are and can be. Till next time! Glo [To Top] On Virginia Prince- Comments received to date I would say that there is not an individual on this planet, whos life has been affected by Crossdressing, that doesn't owe Virginia their respect and gratitude. -Gloria
Today with the Internet and all
the wonderful resources at our disposal it is easy to forgot how difficult it
was being a crossdresser in the 1960's and 1970's. Back then I remember going
to the library to research what this thing was. I discovered a little typed
card from Tri-Ess tucked into the old, pre-computer age, card catalog. Instead
of this card being a reference to a book it was a calling card for the local
Tri-Ess Chapter [possible the roots of AO]. Their little way back then of
telling me I was not alone and there was an organization there for support.
Virginia Prince along with Carol and all their Tri-Ess sisters were true
pioneers and gave so much for our cause. Thank You Virginia.- Lynn Edwards
I met Virginia Prince at the IFGE Conference in Philadelphia in
March of By
Lynn
Edwards
Before I go too far,
I should get a few things out of the way. I make a lot of mistakes
in everything I do. As you read this I am certain you’ll find more
than a few misspellings, typos, misuse of words, etc as proof of my
faults. I am sorry in advance for that.
I’d also like to
share the story of my femme name, Lynn Edwards. I was given
the name Alan Edward… Back in my early 20’s when I was coming
to terms with my other self and felt a need to invent a name for the
femme side of me. After some thought I simply shorted my male name
to Al and created my femme name out what remained. Edwards, is my
middle name with an‘s’ added. Lynn Edwards, I grew up hearing that
portion of my name quite a bit so it does feel perfectly natural to
me today.
So, with that out of
the way here I sit at my computer thinking about what I could say
that would be worthy of publication in this group’s newsletter. Just
what could I possibly add that hasn’t been said dozens of times
before over the years? We all have shared the stories before of
our discovery of female clothing and the joy and pain that this
thing has brought into our lives. I too have experienced all the
highs and suffered thru all the lows this thing can bring. Instead
of writing something like that I so wanted to offer something
completely unique and different. Problem is I haven’t thought of
that unique idea just yet. Before I finish this piece I hope that
thought will come to me.
Until I find that
thought I will take the path so many others have followed and relate
a few of my early recollections of this thing. Yes, like most of us
I was sampling the wonderful feel of women’s clothing as long as I
can remember. My earliest desires were more toward just feeling the
fabrics, rubbing them between my thumb and fingers or gently running
my hand over them. Funny thing, my brother still subconsciously rubs
his clothing between his thumb and fingers much as I did as a small
child. I wonder…
Sometime before
starting school I was punished for these apparently less than hidden
desires of mine. What I did exactly to deserve the "punishment" is
long lost to me but I do recall my mother making me sit on the couch
wearing one of her way-too-big Playtex "Cross Your Heart" bras
waiting for my dad to come home from work. I now know this treatment
was meant as behavior changing punishment for this bad little boy,
but for that little boy it had the opposite effect. I cannot
remember what my dad said or did when he saw me sitting there. It
just was not important to me. What I do recall was an overwhelming
feeling of peace and wellbeing as I waited my fate. It just felt
right.
From that experience
I learned a few important lessons. One, while I liked the feel of
the female clothing, I found that I absolutely loved the feel of
wearing them. Two, my mother and other people thought it was wrong
and they were going to try to keep me from my desires. And finally,
I needed to hide what I was doing so they would leave me alone. As a
result I got really good at hiding my desires. Sadly, this last
lesson has made outing myself and telling my story a difficult task
to this day. So many times I have wanted to tell another about
myself and found the words stuck in my throat refusing to come out
of my mouth.
Another experience
that had a huge positive impact on
Watching the boy
across the street didn’t give me the desire to wear dresses, that
was already in full bloom. Rather it was an early sign to me that I
was not the only boy that liked to wear dresses... As I grew older
and became an adult that early discovery grew in importance.
By age 7 I already knew I was not alone.
Sorry, still
searching for that unique thought…
Why AO and why now? I
have asked myself those questions many times over the last few years
(I think I might have worn Diane out a little with all the emails
back and forth over the last three years). Why would I want to join
AO, and why now? Here is what I got so far.
The "why now?" is
easy. For the last 12 years or so my wife’s aging parents
living with us. It was nearly impossible to dress up with
them in our home. Lynn will benefit from this group. Something I have learned as I have gotten to know other girls in AO and throughout our community is that we are a close-knit group. CD, TG, TS, whatever these girls might call themselves they have always been supportive and concerned about Lynn. For example, during The Erie Sisters Gala last year I had gone out with a group of girls to a nightclub. When it was time to go the girls I rode with weren't around and several others were offering me a ride home. I finally took a ride with one of them and before I got back to the hotel three of the girls from my original ride each called to make sure I was safe. At times during the Gala I felt so alone, so invisible, but in reality over a dozen girls I can think of now were watching out for me, making sure I was safe and having a good time. I'd like to give back to the group. I wouldn't want to see any group like this fade from the scene. I want to help keep AO alive and make it grow. I remember how difficult it was to educate myself and come to terms with this thing back in the 1960's and 70's. Two things I'd like to help with is public outreach and education. If we as a group can help one person I feel the whole thing is a success. Hopefully, we can have a few successes every year. And the last reason I'd like to join this group is that I really like the people I have met so far. Everyone has been so kind and so friendly… now is the time to join. Sorry to tease you with that "unique idea" thing. Don't think I found it today. But I promise I will write another segment for the newsletter when I do have my John Nash moment! [To Top] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  It’s different for boys!I thought I knew my way around European folk costumes. Everyone knows about Scotsmen and their kilts. The more broadly exposed may be aware of the Greek soldier’s costume, the Fustanella.
So I was surprised to see a rather unusual men’s skirt worn in a Portuguese folk dance group called Pauliteiros after their village.
The program accurately described their
dancing as more akin to English Morris dancing and the local
traditions having more of a Celtic influence than elsewhere in
Watching the dances however got me to thinking about some other things. Like girls learning that you don’t, absolutely don’t hang upside down from a tree branch or a jungle Gym if you’re wearing a skirt or dress. I also remember a rather butch lesbian friend of mine, who always wears pants reminding her niece to keep her legs together when wearing a skirt. Apparently these rules do NOT apply to boys or men in skirts:
What is being done here is a rather
acrobatic and daring bit of gymnastics, where performer gets a
running start, leaps onto the back of a kneeling comrade and then
dives through the ring of two other dancers’ arms. Not a “sissy” maneuver.
But when you miss, you
can get caught in a hand stand with Still, I can’t think of doing this myself… My days of such acrobatics are behind me. I can see getting away with this sort of thing in a Fustanella better than the Portuguese costume. At least there are the leggings and petticoats to protect one’s modesty. But I’m afraid at this point, those adjurations to girls have sunk too deep in me to easily overcome. No cartwheels in skirts for me. There’s only person who sees what color my panties are! Photosources: The Kiltmen website: www.kiltmen.com The Pauliteiros website: http://www.pauliteiros.com/ And me for the last one [To Top] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Group Information The Alpha Omega Society is a non-profit social support group for heterosexual crossdressers and their wives or partners. We primarily serve Cleveland and nearby Northeast Ohio communities.
Publication Information Contributions of articles are welcomed, but may be altered in the editing process, with the author’s intent retained, or may be rejected, whether solicited or not. We will exchange newsletters with any other similar group. [To Top] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Want to know when the latest newsletter is available? Ask to be included on our confidential newsletter mailing list. Like the content? Want to see something different? Send your newsletter comments to: Newsletter Editor
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