Living Transgender In American Society Today: The Return Trip

Saturday, May 19, 2012

The Return Trip

The theme at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland certainly can sum up the theme of my life. What a long, strange trip it has been… and will no doubt continue to be, at least I hope it will so I don’t lose my sense of wonder at it all.

Sorry we couldn’t take pictures in the Hall of Fame but we did take a few shots around the area before we left town.

We left Cleveland Wednesday morning and headed south to Wright-Patterson Air base and the BIG Air and Space museum there – it was so huge I could not walk all the way through it in one pass. This museum is free to the public and should not be missed if you are ever near Dayton, Ohio.

We spent that night in Cincinnati We Cincinnati, the next night in St Louis, Missouri.

We continued west each day –

– Tulsa, OK. Tucumcari and New Mexico weren’t really remarkable places except for the noisy pimp and hookers at the Tulsa Red Roof Inn (where the management there seemed intent on ignoring that sort of behavior) and the nice dinner at the “Pow Wow” in Tucumcari – until we got to Sedona Arizona where we stayed for one extra day.

Then we decided to sprint for home instead of taking one more night somewhere.

The End

3 comments:

lyon de clarasvalsMay 20, 2012 at 5:02 PM
Glad to hear about your trip and happy you are safely back home.
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Suzy KabloozyMay 21, 2012 at 10:20 AM
Eva-Genevieve! I love your life, darlin! I can't believe it's been almost 6 years now and you have taught me so much following your journey. There are a lot transgender folk in my world -- more so now that I'm at the Gentle Barn -- and while I would like to think I was never disrespectful to anyone, I think you really refined my skills as a friend. I loved your trip. I was there right along with you, cheering you on and praying for your time with your boys. I know that was a sad and sore spot in your life for over a decade and I am in awe of your courage. I wish you were here so I could give you a hug.

XO, Sue
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Eva-Genevieve!May 21, 2012 at 10:42 AM
I am glad to be home and thankful that we had no problems with people on the way. What a concept... No checkout time here! No rushed daily unpacking and packing the car. It took me a week before I wanted to leave my bedroom and I am still hesitant to go anywhere much. I am happy just to sit in one place and read.

Suzy - Thanks. I guess it has been 6 years already (my how time flies). We need to plan for a day I can come to visit and claim that hug! It is a good feeling just knowing who my boys are now - I had no clue who they were and I am proud of both of my men. (can't really call them boys now that they are so tall and good looking).

Hugs,
EG!
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Any Body, Everybody, Christ’s Body…

…was the theme at this years National Gathering of the UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns this year in San Diego (July 14 –17). There were about 125 attendees from all across the US and we even had folks from other countries. Several topics were discussed including ways to make Church accessible to all – many physical and mental challenges were included in this discussion as well as LGBT concerns, Mentoring Queer youth – the emphasis being the need for all of us to be mentors as we are able and that we all have something to teach others, Advocacy & Empowerment, OnA Next Steps: Telling Our Stories, and also a panel discussion on including “transgender” and gender expression more specifically in OnA statements, and immigration issues too – far more issues and information than one person could take in or even list here.

Starting Wednesday afternoon we jumped right in with a very lively worship service with wonderful music and through the course of the gathering we heard many inspiring speakers and participated in several “breakout” workshop sessions. We broke into small discussion groups daily, heard many points of view on important topics, and made many friends in the process. On our last evening the General Minister and President of the UCC, the Revered Geoffrey Black was the keynote speaker at the banquet. My favorite speaker at the conference was Felix Carrion who often contributes to the UCC’s “Stillspeaking” on-line daily Devotional. We ended the conference Saturday morning with another lively worship service and dismissed just in time for several of us to rush over and march in San Diego’s Pride parade with the Mission Hills UCC Church and Bloom in the Desert Ministries (also UCC affiliated). I brought back lots of things to discuss in upcoming Mission Board meetings, but more than anything else it is the personal connections that made the conference very worthwhile. I feel a part of something much larger now – there was so much positive, hopeful energy shared there. I felt so very warmly welcomed by everyone and I believe that my input there was greatly valued as well. And, of course, I made an impression with my array of colorful dresses and hats too! (Would you expect anything less)? I was so blessed for being allowed to represent First Congregational Church in Riverside at this Gathering.

Follow this link to pictures from the event -the photos are in no particular order and a few shots of the fire that broke out behind the motel where I was staying.

Hugs and Blessings,

Eva-Genevieve!