The Most Beautiful Transwoman I Ever Met...

[Guest ricka]

Back in the early 90's I volunteered one summer at the House of Light which was a hospice for men in the late stages of AIDS. For the most part these were people who found themselves alone in the world at the end of their lives. It was a place to die---an old, unused Catholic convent in Portland, OR.

Every day a wonderful woman would arrive. A transexual woman who called herself "Sister Paula" She was an evangelist with her own show on the local TV cable access. Sister Paula was tall and statuesque.

As I remember her she must have been 6'4" at least with a Rubenesque figure, wore a "dairy-queen wig and huge eyelashes and mascara. She would sit by the sides of the dying, holding their hands, comforting them, attending to their needs until their last breath, sometimes through the night. She was an angel. Come to think of it, do you ever stop to think that angels are portrayed as androgenous?

She of course was a well known figure in the Portland drag scene and perhaps people saw her as a freak. She didn't totally pass. But if I were lying in a bed dying I would have wanted her to be there more than anyone else.

ricka

[Sally]

Oh Ricka,

What a beautiful story about a beautiful soul.

We focus so much on the physical nature of ourselves and so often neglect our true caring nature.

Never neglect who you really are when you begin to transition - your kindness and gentle soul will help people to accept just like it did for Sister Paula.

Love ya,

Sally

[Carolyn Marie]

Thank you for that story, Ricka. Very touching and very inspiring.

Sally's right, we do tend to focus too much on the physical and too little on

what's inside the package. It's a good lesson to remember.

Carolyn Marie

[Guest AllisonD]

Very inspirational, and makes me think that I should be doing more. That Michael Jackson song about the man in the mirror comes to mind....

Allison

[Guest mia 1]

Great reminicing. Why aren't I volunteering more...especially with helping or own people.....Thank you and bless you too...ricka....

[Guest cjnoble71]

Wow! Not just one of the most beautiful Transwomen, but one of the most beautiful human beings. The world needs more people to show just a little bit of that. Thanks Ricka for the inspiring post.

Christine

[Guest ChloëC]

I remember back in the early 90's when I had business trips to the west coast, several times to the S.F. area, I would turn on the tv in the hotel late at night and flip channels when I came upon this one televangalist who was pretty much as described. I was astounded. Because this was right around the time of people like Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, and other tv evangalists (and groups like Focus on the Family) who were 1. very popular, 2. about to come crashing down, 3. often homophobic. And here was an obvious transgendered person providing the same kind of show. The production values were minimal as the channel was obviously local access, but the message was similar. I'm not a fan of tv evangalists, but something about her was intriguing.

If it's the same person, I have a new respect for her, because unlike so many other so-called pious people, she actually went out and did what she preached, and ministered to the needy. Good for her and good for anyone who daily take their faith and put it into actual practice that helps others in the community.

[Guest ~Brenda~]

Ricka hon,

That story was so beautiful. This woman you described loved everyone so much that she was there for people at their greatest time of need. She was there even if family had turned their backs on them. She loved a stranger as her own flesh and blood. She was truely loving. In spite of how she might have been treated, she loved everyone.

We all give from our hearts. We give love.

Beautiful,

Brenda