A boiling revalation

[Charlize]

I make maple syrup on an evaporator that works by boiling away large quantities of water quickly. It is wood fired using scrap from our sawmill, mostly pine. The pine burns hot and fast so one often has to open the firebox and add wood. The hair singes off of my arms and i've discovered the hard way it destroys wigs. I've blown two away this year. Well i finally have had enough and simply take my wig off and keep working with a cotton hat for a bit of warmth(it is a hot and cold environment). Well i caught a glimpse of myself in an old mirror that lives there from my CD days. I looked good? How? I mean i shave and am completely bald but a woman was looking at me from that mirror. I can't say that i want to go bald in public,as i look like a cancer patient, but i also look female now even without my wig or makeup. I think it is as much in my mind as in my body but i am definitely enjoying the difference in perception. Perhaps it is simply that i am finally seeing myself.

Hugs,

Charlize

[tracy_j]

Yes I can understand that when I think about it Charlize!

On the occasions that I see bald women either from illness etc or just fashion I always find it interesting how they still look female without hair when a major identifying factor for a woman is supposed to be hair. That is one reason why I never have any real intention to buy a wig - just work with what I have.

It sounds like one way of avoiding shaving arms for anyone who needed to lol

Tracy x

[Guest Gregg Jameson]

Hi Charlize,

I live in a region where many sugar houses are busy with making syrup. It's a Spring tradition to visit the various sugar houses as they work to provide wonderful product from sap. It must be very satisfying work, to see the outcome?

(When I was a youngster, we used to tap trees, boiling down the sap on an outdoor fire. Not the most efficient way to produce syrup, for sure! Yet, we had lots of fun, involving the whole neighborhood in gathering sap, day and night. Each family would get a container of finished product, which was a bit "smokey" in flavor, due to the open wood fire outdoors! How silly of us, yet it was fun and helped to contribute to a spirit of community for all of the young people in the neighborhood. We'd had so much fun, we made this an annual tradition. Kept us occupied, for which our parents were thankful!)

CONGRATULATIONS to you, Charlize! You have worked diligently on your transition and on all related issues in your life. You deserve to see the truly beautiful woman we see in you -- both inside and out!

Hugs,

Brad