The Gala

[Guest Amanda joan]

Hi there,

Can we talk here??

I flashed a Priest Saturday Night.

Well let me start at the beginning.

Two worlds colide. I have been taking this Organizational Development class with my Priest for the last year. We meet every 3 months for two days of intense work and study. As it worked out this past weekend was one of those weekends and the Gala was also this past weekend. I had arranged to save me some drive time to get changed into my gown at my Priest's apartment which is much closer to the place we were taking the class than my house. Now Anne-Marie is my Priest and she is one of the first people that I came out to. She had never seen me on drag but, was looking forward to seeing me in my gown. Her and her S/O Lisa were very kind to let me use there bedroom to get ready for the Gala. Before I got changed Anna-Marie wanted me to meet her next door neighbor Raul. So we went next door while I was wearing a pair of her shoes. Raul is a very nice guy and he and his boyfriend asked if I would come back after I got dressed up and made up, I agreed to do that.

Then I went back and got started and Anne-Marie went to the store to get some drinks. I was in a very funny mood and when I heard her come back in I had just finished my makeup. I have a full lenght white fox fur coat that I had brought to wear to the Gala. I was all ready except that I did not have on my gown, so I put on the coat and walked out into the livingroom were she was sitting on the couch working on her laptop. I called her name and she looked up and said wow that was fast and then I opened the coat up and flashed her! We both got a good laugh out of that. Then she helped me get my gown on and she and Lisa gave me some makeup tips and Anne-Marie helped me blend the eyeshadow colors together. Then we went back over to see the guys and they were very impressed with my transformation. Then they got into a debat about which one of them would look better in a skirt.

I had a drink with the ladies ( a very weak one) and then hit the road to arrive fashionable late to the Gala. It was very cold and I was glad to have my fur coat. My high heels were sparkling and made my legs look very sexy. I came off the elevator and into the lobby and the man at the desk asked if I was there for the TGEA Gala and pointed me in the right direction. I waited in line to get checked in. It seems I was not the only one who was fashionably late. I entered the event and went right up to Jude the President of TGEA and gave her a hug and thanked her for helping me get to the event. She was in a good mood because they had just hit the break even point with the last few pay at the door folks. She was expecting that there would be over 70 people for the evening. I looked around the room for someone I knew and greeted some of the other oganizers. I talked with some of the women that came in when I did and we complimented each other on our gowns. I met this beautiful post surgical Transwoman who was just so happy and friendly. I got allot of nice comments on my gown & shoes. I then proceed to the buffet line for some appetizers. Then I saw Carrie! She and I had met and hung out 2 month earlier at PW's Sports Bar and had not been able to get together since. He hugged and exchanged our suprise at seeing the other. She had just that morning been talked into coming by her friends Cindy and Karen. Now I have to tell you Cindy & Karen are party girls extrodiair. I ended up sitting with a great bunch of girls and all but one of us danced the whole night long. Karen and Cindy were talking pictures all night with everyone (me included) They both got up on the stage and posed with the band for pictures. The band was cool with that and was happy to pose with them. They also provided use with great music to dance to. They were very appreciative of how freindly and fun we were. I had so much fun just checking out what everyone else was wearing. The dresses and gowns, the silk gloves and the wigs. I have to say that I think I had the best shoes in the house. So of the other ladies said that if I took them off they would steel them.

They gave out two awards for members who had done great things. One to them had won an Emmy for her work on CNN producing and special program during the election. We all sang hey Jude in honnor of Jude the President of TGEA. I can not express how wonderful it was just to be in that room. While I was dancing I was over come with emotions that almost had me in tears two or three times. I had never dance in a dress in a public place. I enjoyed that so much and some of the songs I danced to like "Dancing Queen" by ABBA were just majical. I felt so free shaking my hips to the beat and waving my hands in the air like I had seen women do over the years. Carrie and I danced palm to palm like little girls and we also did hip bumps with each other. By the end of the night my legs were so tried I could hardly dance.

Carrie is a sweet heart and she really likes me. I got the wrong idea from something that she said and it kind of freaked me out. She wanted to go out with me sometime and I took that as she wanted to hook up with me and I had an anxiety attack. I had never felt like that before. I felt bad for her too because I did not want to hurt her feelings. She did her best to try to make me feel beter, even offered to take me out with her in drab so I could experience what I feels like to be treated like a lady. That still wa easy to take the wrong way and I said that I would think about it. We E-mailed each other the next day and when she realized what I had been thinking she realized that it would have been easy to make the assumption. I am glad we worked that out and that she just wants to be friends. We plan to get togather again after the Holidays.

So with the exception of my little anxiety attack it was one of the most fabulous nights I have ever had. I felt great about how I looked and was able to dance. I discoved a new way to hook up with other transgirls when I want to go out. Cindy has a yahoo group that she created to let all her TG firends know when a few girls are getting together to go to a club or event so you can plan to meet up with them. They do this atleast once a month. I can't wait to get out with them again.

Cindy and Karen peomissed to send me some pictures and as soon as I get them I will post them here.

Peace & Love Amanda Joan

[Guest Donna Jean]

Ok...Ok...OK....

Once I got past the flashing the priest part....*cough*

LOL...

Oh my, Amanda! It must of been a truly magical evening! I can just see it all from your descriptions!

How wonderful....

And except that one little thing that gave you the anxeity attack...it was all pure joy!

It all must of been so beautiful...thank you so much for sharing that with us, Hon!

HUGGS!

Donna Jean

[Guest Amanda joan]

like, WOW. Amanda, you make me happier just to read your upbeat posts. Keep it up!

Thanks, Kat

PS Just found out that the "Snow-ball" is this weekend here. And I have nothing to wear! Can I borrow that dress?

Well Kat.

I don't know...... I could ship it C.O.D. I guess. But I do hope I can wear it again on New Year's Eve. That's if I can find some place to go. I have to tell you many of the ladies did not go as fancy as I did and they looked great. So please go no matter what you have to wear. Being an active part of the community makes you feel so alive.

Peace & Love Amanda

[Carolyn Marie]

Oh my, Amanda that sounds like a night in heaven. I am so happy for you and so envious too. Just the thought of being able to dress elegantly

and dance and spend the evening completely free to be yourself, what a dream come true.

You are living the life, Amanda. I wish you continued happiness and success.

Next year at this time, I promise you I'll be living it too.

Love

Carolyn