About Time

Earlier in The Day: Shaft and One Hot Blonde are talking in his office. I needed Shaft’s signature on an affidavit, so I walked in, placed it on his desk, handed him a pen, obtained his signature … and started to walk out. I looked at One Hot Blonde and apologized for the interruptiooon. And noticed a look in her eyes that I had never noticed before … it was if she was nodding her head up and down in her eyes. Smiling. Confirming.

I think it’s a combination of two things …

My hair getting longer with me just not as actively attempting to restrain it and keep it gelled back, along with …

My face healing more from my surgery with my forehead scar diminishing in presence greatly and remnant swelling subsiding even further.

But in the past month … passing as boy to strangers is no longer guaranteed … regardless of what I’m wearing, lack of make-up or how much bondo I have in my hair.

Though that’s amongst those that don’t know me.

Because I have still been able to pass as a boy to those that know me …

Their previously set gender perception of me overcoming the changes in my appearance that the unfamiliar see in me.

Satan works in the same building as my firm’s offices are located … and over the years we’ve gotten to know many of her co-workers at the design studio where she works …

And as with many who know me … the changes in my weight, hair, appearance in general and resulting subtle? 🙂 changes in my face have been the topic of discussion among some at Satan’s studio …

What’s wrong with him? Is he sick? He’s lost so much weight. His face really looks different since his surgery. I think he’s gay. He’s definitely gay.

… So apparently yesterday, there were only a few people in her office … Satan and two co-workers … one that works for our office part-time (Martha) and another for whom I’ve answered a few miscellaneous, general legal questioooons (One Hot Blonde).

And somehow the topic of me came up.

“Satan, I think Joe’s a transvestite [sic], you know, it’s not as uncommon as you’d think.”

“What?”

“Seriously, I think he’s planning on having a sex change. You’re just too close to him … too good a friend … to see what’s really going on … I mean … look at him … he looks like a girl !”

Ring … ring … ring.

“Joe, it’s me Satan,” duh, as if I didn’t feel the chill when the phone rang, “One Hot Blonde has you totally figured out.”

“Really.”

“I didn’t confirm it to her, but you need to tell her.”

“Okay, I will later. I’m on my way to meet Sister and Miss Daisy for a beer. You can tell her if you want, I trust One Hot Blonde. Just make sure you give her the privacy speech. I don’t want it advertised just yet, but since she’s figured it out, it’s best to let her know and trust her discretion. Otherwise she’ll just speculate wildly with others. Did she really say I looked like a girl? I mean, that’s quite the compliment from One Hot Blonde.”

“Yeah, those were her exact words and yes, it is quite the compliment. I’ll tell her now then. See ya.”

“Kewl. Thanks for the heads up, for not telling her and checking with me first. Bye,” I said as I hung up my mobile and turned the heat up in my car, trying to rid myself of the piercing, devilish chill.

January 2, 2004, approximately 3:30 pm …. for the first time to my knowledge … someone I know has figured it out.

I’m surprised it took so long.