Thursday 26 august. I got up at 05.30 on, feeling tremendously excited that the day had finally arrived. I dressed in my beige long sleeved t-shirt and matching pleated miniskirt and ankle boots. Yesterday I had left my suitcase in the office in Geneva and had been intending to hitchhike back today so as to avoid having to park the car there for almost a month but it was pouring with rain so I decided to take the bus instead. I hiked down to the Col de Bluffy, the pass through which the main road runs, and stood waiting for the 07.00 bus from La Clusaz (the local ski resort) to Annecy. It was dawn and I stood looking across the valley at my picturesque little village which nestled on the slopes of the 1821 metre Dents de Lanfon.
The church bell was ringing seven o'clock and the peals were echoing in the dawn silence. I wondered with a pang of nostalgia whether I'd ever see home again, but, at the same time marvelled that when I did, I'd be a real (well, to all intents and purposes) woman.
I took the bus to Annecy and considered it an excellent omen that the driver today was my neighbour ! At 07.30 I caught the connection to Geneva then at 09.30 a local tram. A workman digging a hole in the road looked at me and spread his arms wide "Madame you are magnificent !" When I was waiting for the final tram a black girl told me I had a very pretty skirt and that I must be cold. She admonished "That will teach you not to check the weather forecast before leaving home !" It's funny how people chat to me in the street. It must be the permanent smile I have on my face.
I arrived at the office at 10.30, after a trip of almost 4 hours ! Oops. I joined in a meeting with my colleagues but wasn't really able to concentrate. We all had a good laugh about my impending departure and one or two subconsciously squeezed their legs together at the thought of what was to happen to me !. I have known my colleagues for 10 years and they have given me enormous support throughout the 4 years or so during which my identity crisis has been public.
I phoned my little 6 year old daughter twice from the office and said I'd be home in just over 3 weeks. I shall miss her dreadfully. My transsexual friend Anny was due to come and to pick me up at the office at 16.30. I met her a couple of years ago when she was working for a company on a different floor of the same little office block. It was quite a coincidence to have 2 transsexuals in the same building ! She had decided to have her SRS at the same time as I, at Dr Suporn, taking advantage of the fact that I spoke English, something which she didn't.
It was time to leave ! I went around saying goodbye to everyone. They were very genuine in their good wishes and it was a heart rending moment. We drove the 10 minutes to the airport and Anny's boyfriend Patrick left us after they had spent a lot of time kissing 'n cuddling. |