Blissed Out

It didn't go exactly as I thought it might, but it was wonderful front to back.

The wife and kids were supposed to be leaving town around noon, pulled out at 1:45. Spent a long time on my legs, fought football traffic, and got to Lisa's about 5:00. The meeting is at 7:30, and Shannon and I both needed to get ready. Shopping? Feh.

It was easily the most leisurely dressing I've ever done. No hurry, get it right. I ran into some trouble concealing my beard shadow, not having an appropriate shade. Shannon called me on it after I'd gotten much further along and assisted me in trying to hide it. I didn't care all that much, as I felt I looked pretty darn good anyway.

Veterans of our meetings were surprised when I arrived dressed. It's only the second time in almost two years that I hadn't transformed on site. Sixteen months since my only other outing. I went with bare legs, no hosiery, so as to show off my toenails and my favorite sandals. Black knee length skirt, black ribbed sweater, tan sandals. Rockin'!

Much of the crew goes out to eat after meetings, and today was no exception. The difference was that I went along for the first time. There were eleven of us, and the waitress has handled our groups many times, so we were treated well. We had to wait at the front while they pushed tables together. Two guys at the bar were craning their necks, giving us the eyeball. I wasn't wearing my glasses (boy frames!), so I couldn't tell if there was ill will or longing or simple slack-jawed ogling. Some of us, ahem, were quite hot. I'll have evidence in a few days.

When I was being driven back to the apartment after the meal, I sat back for a while and closed my eyes and just soaked it all in. This is what it feels like to be comfortable in your skin, pleased with the look that you're presenting to the world. My eyes are welling up again writing this. I was euphoric, and I'm still pretty close to that now. True joy doesn't hang with me much, but I could get used to having it around.

Thanks to Lisa for being a gracious and kind hostess, and to Tina, Shannon, and Sylvia for being the best friends this girl could ask for. You kids are swell.