Hello Everyone!

[Guest ChloëC]

Hi. I'm Chloë and I'm happy to meet all of you and to be here. I would guess that my story is similiar to many of you. I was born (a) Mike, but at about 4 or 5 I asked my mother to make me a dress. Which sort of surprisingly she did. It was just out of heavy paper but still...I loved it. Tho, some years later she sort of caught me and lectured me about the gay (it wasn't called that then!) lifestyle, but I just sat wondering if I could ever tell her the truth. So I learned to get very private after that.

I do remember somewhere around 9 or 10 imagining myself to be someone like Maid Marion with a dashing Robin Hood out there to save me. Now, there is something way in our (my brothers and me) past that a lot of shrinks would obviously jump on and say, a ha! There is the logical/medical/psychological explanation. But I know deep down exactly what is going on and my brothers are very hetero. And it's nobody's business but my own and those I choose to tell. I'm on my second marriage and have children from both. My first wife never knew (but almost caught me once), but I 'came out' very early on to my current wife, and she is a little supportive in that I only went as far as saying I enjoyed wearing women's clothes and had done so in the past (all true). We even incorporated some of it into our private times. Yet, it wasn't the same. For although I am definitely a CD, I have very strong (at times) emotions verging on TS. Yet, even my CD feelings ebb and flow. So, of course, I'm rather torn between the forums and chat rooms here.

Right now both are flowing quite strong as I have the house to myself for three days, and I live in the country on about 3 acres with our nearest neighbors off in the woods. So last night I was able to sit out on the deck with a glass of wine, fully dressed (en femme) and just...relax. And this morning, I am just padding around the house in a bright floral print sun dress and...relaxing. Which is why if any mod was watching, last night when I registered, I was sort of anxious to get going because who knows when the mood or the situation will change. But right now, I have a little control and I'm in the mood so, here I am. I can't say how often I will be back but I will be. And I want to thank Laura and all those who are making this a place to be at and to share.

[Sally]

Welcome to the forums Chloe,

I'm so sorry but my keyboard has no umlaut so there you have that.

it is a little early still so instead of cookies, I have baked cinnamon rolls to welcome you, sit down while I get you some cocoa and we'll wait for the others to come around.

You have come to a wonderful place to sort things out, of course along the way a gender therapist is a must but for now just relax and ask questions, read others posts and comment on anything that you like.

We are here to support each other and never judge so relax and be you.

Welcome to the family.

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest gwenthlian]

Hi Chloë welcome to the site and I hope you like it here

[Guest S. Chrissie]

Welcome!!

[Guest Donna Jean]

Hello, Chloe!

Very nice to meet you!

I'm Donna Jean...59 year old MTF and in my transition..

I had been like you in the past, but after coming out to my wife and not having to hide anymore...it has become truly wonderful for me and her, too, actually!

So, Welcome to the Playground, Hon...

Please enjoy your time with us!

Relax and get comfortable.....OK?

Huggs

Donna Jean

[Carolyn Marie]

Hello, Chloe! Let me join my sisters in welcoming you to Laura's. This truly is a great place

to share your thoughts, ask questions, and be yourself, whatever your mood happens to be

at the time.

Like Sally and Donna Jean, I'm one of the more "mature" members here (cough). I've been a CDer off and on

since my teens and I too have a family, so there are similarities in our stories. You'll find many people

to relate to. Please take your time to look through past forum posts and the resource pages and

make yourself at home. We're here to help and support each other.

It was great to meet you.

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Pól]

Hey Chloë, welcome to the playground!

[Guest Jean Davis]

Hi Chloe

So nice to meet you and welcome to the playground.

LUV

Jean Davis

[Guest ~Brenda~]

Welcome Chloe,

It is wonderful to see you here at Laura's. I do hope that you stick around and continue to post to the forums hon. You will learn a great deal more about yourself!!Yes, your feelings will ebb and flow. Don't worry, just go with them, you will be OK. As you can see chat and the forums have different characteristics. In chat, it is fast and real-time. In the forums, it is not real-time, but you can take your time to post. Both chat and the forums have an important place here at Laura's. If you feel more at home in chat, that is great hon. Wherever you feel comfortable is what is important.

I hope to see you around hon,

HUGS

Brenda

[Guest ChloëC]

oooh! I hit the wrong key and my wonderful reply just vanished. oh pooh!.

Well, anyway, thank you all for your wonderful welcomes. Sally, how did you possibly know two of the breakfast/brunch items I absolutely love - chocolate anything I just die for, (I tried coffee once and decided I never wanted to develop the taste) and I had to give up on cinammon rolls cuz they were going right to my mid-section and never leaving. I've lost about 18 pounds in the last year (1-2 a month, good, yes? tho the first six months were a little more successful), so cinammon rolls were the first to go, but now they are such a treat!

Don't worry about the umlaut. I like little distinctive things like that, but I'll always respond to any kind greeting.

Right now I am so relaxed. I just got out of a hot bubble bath (with requisite scented candles and appropriate drink) and am Saturday night dressed. One more day before back to the grind.

Mature, I guess I fit. If the internet had been available way back when, I guess my life might have turned out differently. I only knew from a few books I furtively read, by Jan Morris, Nancy Hunt, Canary Conn among others. But those people were so far removed from my life, they might have been just passing by from Mars to Venus.

So, as you all have suggested, I'll browse around here, logged in rather than lurking, and look to join in some discussions. Thank you all again.

[Sally]

I am so much like you, I love chocolate and never learned to drink coffee.

I used to work in a mall where there was a Cinnabon Store just a few doors away and I used to skip lunch and just have one of those big Cinnambons instead - I kept gaining weight and I couldn't figure it out until I found out that one Cinnabon had over 1900 calories!

I ate breakfast and dinner so I was doubling my calorie intake needs for every day that I did that.

I'm more careful now but still fighting that long slow battle.

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest Jean Davis]

oooh! I hit the wrong key and my wonderful reply just vanished. oh pooh!.

I hate when that happens

[Paula ult]

Welcome to Laura's Chloe, i think you will find answers to any questions you may have here, if not ask away.

HUGS!

Paula