Picture Show: The Evolution of Cass :c)

Hi all! Happy Saturday!

I've been a bit reticent about do this up until now... but events today changed my mind.

I want to introduce you...

To me. :c)

Follow below for the complete story!




I was headed to see my therapist for my session, but unfortunately got caught in an epic traffic jam. After an hour I realized I would never make it on time, so I turned around and returned home.

I went clothes shopping with my work friend RW (I know several R's, so she shall henceforth be RW :c)) last week, and I finally had a chance to go out wearing some of my new items.

It is brutally hot here, and has been for days, so I opted for a cami, a ruffled tank top, shorts, and sneakers. Too hot to ruin a dress in this heat with my excessive, um... dewiness. lol

Anyway, I came home, called M my therapist, and left a message that I could not make it and if we could do the session by phone. I joked that I had gotten all dolled up for her for no reason now, but I would send a few pictures.

So I pulled out my iPhone and snapped off a few shots of myself.

My land line rang as I finished, so I hurriedly saved the shots without even looking at them.

After I came back, I took a look.

O_O

Oh.

My.

God.

I saw ME!

And only ME!

I was, and am, stunned.

At my most recent electrolysis session, we did the last bit of work on my eyebrows.

(OK, it was actually 45 minutes, not a bit, followed by another 45 minutes at the maximum setting around my mouth... and I had the headache for two days to prove it!!!)

I think that may have been the tipping point.

But even before that, my work friends RW and S, as well as my electrologists M and RE, have told me repeatedly that, quite simply, I am a girl now.

And that I can no longer pass as a boy with people who do not know me previously. At best, I look like a girl trying to pretend she is a boy.

RW took a picture of me with my co-worker and friend D yesterday, and I saw what she meant - sort of. I looked, well... androgynous.

But today was a different story, for whatever reason.

I sent them off to my sister via text.

A moment later she called.

"I cannot believe that is you!!!" she exclaimed.

"Me either," I admitted. I could feel my face turning red.


"You're totally a girl. You look so good!!!" she said.

I was really blushing now, but admitted I was surprised with the results.

"And you aren't even wearing makeup either, are you?"

I was not.

"You bitch!"


(What would we do without sisters? lol)

I sent them to a few other friends, all of whom were very complimentary.

While texting my friend C, I sort of summed up how I feel when I look at these:

"Hey, she's kinda cute-looking!"

"Wait - 'she' is ME!!!" lol

That is still hard for me to fathom.

After a lifetime denying that it could ever happen... I see a girl when I look in the mirror today.

And only a girl.

That might change tomorrow (and probably will)... but for the first time ever I saw no trace of him.

Only me.

***

So, after much debate, I decided to share several pre-Cass shots for reference, and several taken today.

Part of me is afraid of a weird reaction.

I have heard a lot of stories that make me nervous.

I also value my privacy. A great deal.

And I plan to go into stealth mode when I am full-time. (More coming on that soon as well.)

But part of me also thinks it is important to show girls who are just starting out what transitioning does to different people. That helped me immensely when I was starting out.

I knew I would never look as good as the women I considered role models.

I still feel that way.

But I hoped that I could at least pass someday, if I worked long enough and hard enough.

Today, I saw evidence for myself that my dream is coming true.

And if I can do it... so can anyone.

On to the pictures!

***

This was taken in June 2011, two months after I contacted my therapist, M, and told her I was considering transitioning:

The day I started on hormones - November 19, 2011:

 June 2012 (eight months):

October 2012 (11 months):

May 2013 (17 months - taken immediately after electrolysis - hence the stubble lol):

 And today, July 6th, 2013 (19 months):

And last but not least, this one which is my favorite :c):

Please be kind. :c) As I said, I am wearing no makeup at all here, so I am a bit nervous about this... but if it helps one person, it will be worth the nerves!

***
At the requests of my friends RW & S, I'm adding a new picture I took with my bangs swept to the side.

 

 Discuss amongst yourselves. :D 

***


Just as good as the chance to show off a bit and hopefully help someone out lol is the opportunity to play the stellar opening track to John Prine's 1991 masterpiece, The Missing Years. Here is "Picture Show":

And here's a terrific live version from 1996, courtesy of Austin City Limits:

Listen to as much John Prine as often as you can! It will make you a better person - guaranteed. :c)

Happy Saturday to one and all!