The funeral for my grandmother was this morning. Lincoln limousines not Caddys.
As they say funerals are for the benefit of the living not the departed. My mother gave a beautiful eulogy that made her mother's life come alive in the minds eye of all those in attendance.
Like the title of this post suggests, I was going to use Elvis' version of Long Black Limousine but...
In guy mode I was suitably stoic but the minister had prepared a video montage of her life. The music he chose was the one song guaranteed to make me cry, Into the West, Journey's End from the conclusion to Lord of the Rings. It was all I could do to keep myself together but still I felt the tears come.
The photo is from her wedding day in 1941, she looks like a movie star.
Most of yesterday was spent at the funeral home and later at my mothers planning the funeral. The funeral home was very good striking the necessary balance between commercialism and compassion.
I was fine during most of the day but as we approached the end of the planning process I had to excuse myself and go sit in the car for a minute least I start sobbing....you know something guys aren't supposed to do.
Recovering from a lack of sleep yesterday as I received a call at 2:45 AM about the earthquake in Japan. My brother and his family live in Tokyo so naturally we were all worried. He was able to send an e-mail very soon and my mother was able to speak with him yesterday to everyone's relief.
The weekend looks as if it will be a busy one and the funeral is Monday morning.
One of the benefits of working from home is the that I see my children more and can walk them to school in the morning without fear of being late.
All three have such different personalities it is amazing, yesterday "V" (the real live wire) and I walked together and arriving early at the playground she initiated her favorite game, tag. Before I knew it a number of her friends had been drafted, of course I was it.
What a work out! The game has evolved over the school year it includes all sorts of arcane rules such as timeouts, T (safety zones), 10 second no tag backs and the ever popular prohibition on monkey guarding.
What a wonderful feeling, like being a kid again.
I had mentioned the other day that my Grandmother has not been well for some time. Since I saw her last on Sunday she had taken a turn for the worst. Her indomitable spirit that had carried her through so many years and through cruel imprisonment in her own body by a stoke, was finally failing her.
Family and work commitments kept me away the last two days, this morning on the way to filming I stopped in at the home to check on her... I had missed her by only twenty minutes.
We had spent a lot of time together when I was a child and far from home. It sounds archaic but I am in mourning, there is no better word.
She is at peace now, free from pain and I trust in a far better place.
International Women's Day, hmm. As someone who was in the closet since forever the annual media onslaught as to how hard women had it was hard to take.
Please don't get me wrong I agree with all the statistics about earning less and the potential for violence against women.
As a man I just hated being cast as the bad guy when all I wanted to do was join the other team. I am sure in my frustration I reacted with my share of vitriol and sarcastic remarks.
I will still argue that it is tough to be a man these days….. doubly so if you don't want to be one.
Some have taken the opportunity today to mention women that have inspired them. To that list I would like to add my grandmother. I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time with both grandparents when I was at boarding school, especially those bitter sweet "home weekends".
A member of the Greatest Generation" she is one of the bravest people I have ever met stoically bearing years of illness with a grace few if any could muster.
The same bravery I imagine she and other Londoners displayed during the war.
No I am not referring to a Norse hook up or anything to do with SPAM.
I have found that my ability to focus, especially when creative writing is the order of the day can at times be nearly impossible. Blood from a stone and all that. An absent muse is serious business as much of my job involves the creative use of words. Some professional scribblers a certain Mr. King among them never seem to lack for inspiration. I was relieved to learn from a freelance journalist and friend that he experiences the same problem and the completion of an article or business proposal is the mental equivalent of a couple of rounds in the ring.
Coffee and music (loud music) are the missing ingredient in my creative process. Suffering from a severe case of adult ADD and a side order of depression and dysphoria I brewed up a fresh pot of joe and dug out my favourite classic soundtrack CD I had made a few years ago. It features a selection of tracks from the 13th Warrior, Pirates of the Caribbean, Last of the Mohicans and Star Wars…oh and a little Mozart thrown in for good measure.
Southern Ontario has enjoyed some above freezing but rainy weather the last few days firmly implanting thought of spring in the heads of car guys and gals. I even managed to snatch an hour or two yesterday to work on the Electra and test fit the replacement fiberglass filler panel between they rear bumper and quarter panel. The fiberglass repops are cheap but need considerable finessing to make fit. So much adjusting to do before the piece looks right.
Last night the rain turned into freezing rain then snow, I spent two hours Sunday morning scrapping, shovelling and moving cars so that the driveway would have that pristine blacktop look that "J" likes so much.
Now I hope that discussing other things unrelated to being Trans does not brand me as not sufficiently transsexual. I blog because it helps me with my depression and GID and I write about what I know and what I enjoy. Sometimes it is the trials and tribulations of being transsexual sometimes it is cars and music. I enjoy other blogs that talk about their day to day lives, it humanizes us.
I have been following Lucy's journey with great interest and am delighted to hear that she is doing well and in good spirits but I can't help feeling oh so jealous. It is a complex mixture of jealousy, fear and self doubt. My own road seems so long will I ever make it?
This morning I had to attend a parent observation morning for my youngest in kindergarten. The children were asked how they felt that morning and to each use a different word to describe themselves. One little girl said pretty, some of the boys demured saying you can't feel pretty. The teacher said no that is correct she can feel pretty. "Then how would we describe our guest, can we use the word pretty?" I don't think Mr. X feels pretty, do you think he feels pretty? How about a word beginning with H, how about handsome?"
I could feel myself turning a little red at the absurdity of it all and a little sad at being pointed out as male. I also noticed with some chagrin that my youngest was trying to tell her friend that no daddy is pretty sometimes...no one heard her.
The teacher later spoke to me about my new job telling me that it was my daughter who told her all about it, if she mentioned anything else the teacher did not let on.
Laser appointment at 7:00 today, I would go as April but I don't shave for a day or two beforehand so the technician can see where the hairs are. The session went well, I really don't mind the pain. I always look forward to my appointments as the staff are so nice and for a brief moment I am one of the girls.
I am very happy for our own Lucy especially as everything seems to be going well, wow to wake up a woman such a long held wish from childhood. Does she, would I feel any different? Thanks for continuing blogging and bringing us the news from the front line.
Hugs,
April
Apropos of nothing except that I really like the tune is Toronto's own Handsome Ned:
My rare trip out as April in the daylight and doing my job was a great confidence boost even though I didn't find Mr. Buick's grave.
I high tailed it back to the hotel and changed quickly into guy mode and returned to film more of the hot rod show at Cobo Hall, specifically some of the rockabilly bands playing
and the Miss Autorama pageant. Not yo
ur usual bikini car show rather a rockabilly/kustom kulture/burlesque inspired beauty contest.
Professional hair and makeup artists specializing in the fifties pin up girl look so popular in the kustom life style were on hand to help any contestants who wanted it. I captured some of the preparations on film for television and some still images for the article. Jealous certainly but more in the dysphoria way than any wish to be on stage. To say that the contest was popular was an understatement, I had to fight my way to the front through a sea of guys to get the camera set up.
The girls both professional and amateur did a great job, looks weren't everything as they were also judged on fashion and appreciation of the rockabilly ethos. Each had to name their favourite car, god forbid anyone mentioned a muscle car (as opposed to a chopped Merc or deuce coupe). Two professional models from the more mainstream part of the show upstairs participated and I was pleased to note both were very tall over six feet.
I finished up a little earlier than I thought so I grabbed a Greek salad at the bar just down the street from the Milner. Still having some time on my hands I decided to venture out again, this time to GiGi's. I had brought a LBD with me but was uncertain whether I would have the time or opportunity to wear it on this trip. Was I nervous leaving the hotel, walking through the lobby or down the street to retrieve my car...nope...more progress.
I had been to GiGi's before, a legendary gay club in Detroit that has a drag show and is a hangout for transgendered/transsexual girls. The club was not packed but lots of other girls were there and I had a chance to chat with quite a few of them. Like all Detroiters I met, unfailingly friendly and no matter what gender always ready to talk cars. No dancing as the music was too modern disco for my liking as you can tell from the blog my taste runs several decades older.
Sunday morning back to the show at 10:00 AM to shoot some more still images and conduct an interview for a second article I am working on. As I walked back to my car I bid farewell to the city and took one or two more shots of the skyline. I have journeyed to Las Vegas many times for car business (SEMA) and although a cool place I am more than ready to leave after five days, Detroit is different, leaving always feels different, sad, a little like leaving home.
The drive home was better too, last year I was filled with despair as I returned to a job that would never let me transition. Things are not certain at the new job but there is hope, it is up to me now.
Working on a deal to be back soon on business and maybe April full time at next years show....
Hugs,
April
Here is Jack Scott, Windsor & Detroit Rockabilly hero:
