Another Adventurous Weekend, Part 3

By Tina Davis

I woke up Sunday, April 27, 2025, to a cold and wet day. But I was determined to go back to the welcoming church I had visited in March, and to wear the floral Calvin Klein dress as my Easter outfit. I had decided that I needed a dresser pair of white heeled sandals, so I used a discount code from DSW to order a pair that I picked up on my way home from my mother’s on Saturday.

I washed up and shaved, checking for any missed spots on my arms and chest, before closely shaving my face. I did put my fake lashes on with my makeup and got dressed. I didn’t put on any hose, as I wanted to show my pale pink toenails in my sandals. Once I was ready, I took several pictures and was happy with the look.

I drove to the church and parked closer to the entrance as it was lightly raining. I used my multicolor umbrella and entered the back door of the church. I found my way into the sanctuary and sat in a pew after taking off my coat and putting my umbrella under the pew in front of me. It was nice to sit quietly for a few moments, and I greeted other people who sat near me. As the time of the service neared, I saw the senior pastor, Sarah, make her way up the aisle and specifically welcome me back.

I did not see the associate pastor, Stacy, but the young female pastoral resident, Megan, was preaching that morning. Her sermon about Thomas (the doubting apostle) tied in with the season of resurrection, which meant a lot to me, as I have been on an emotional roller-coaster since the passing of my father.

When the service ended, I made my way to the back of the sanctuary, where Sarah was waiting. We hugged and had a short conversation about how I found the church and the love and support I received. I told her I wanted to come back again, but couldn’t say when, as my next opportunity to get out was not apparent. I said I would stay for the coffee time but needed a restroom visit first, and she directed me to one by the kitchen, through the room where the gathering was happening.

I needed to adjust my shapewear and hip pads, as the right one had slid off-center. After taking care of business, I returned to the room and poured myself a cup of water. There were many snacks available, and I chatted with a few people about the variety before choosing a small pastry. I made my way over to Megan and got another hug from her as she complimented my dress. An older woman joined us and said she hadn’t worn a skirt since she retired, and I just smiled.

There was a congregational meeting in the chapel of the church, which I did not wish to attend, so I finished my snack, took the picture in front of the flag mural, and said my farewells to Sarah and Megan. I drove home and took off the dress, as I had a couple of household chores to do. I put on a pair of capri jeans and my light blue sneakers to clean the kitchen floor, deciding to have some fun once I was done.

I wanted to go out again, so I changed into this fuchsia top and black skirt, with tights and heeled booties. I went to a restaurant for a drink and an appetizer – I love my martinis! I did chat with a couple of women a few seats down, we talked about the hockey playoffs that were on the bar TVs. I did end up talking to my wife while sitting in the car in the parking lot before driving home.

Monday, April 28, was the last day of my long weekend, and I had to clean up all of my things and re-pack my duffel bags. But it was such a beautiful day, I had to get out once more. I put on the new black denim skirt, my leopard print top, and flat gladiator sandals. My wife has this very cute bag with a cat face on it, so I borrowed it for the couple of errands I needed to do. I also boldly went out in the back yard to take a picture with our gorgeous tulips in full bloom.

I washed several things before packing the last items in my bags and hauling them back up to the dormer space. This had been a full time across the 5 days, not all of it spent dressed, but a welcome respite from the usual drab look. While it may be several months before I can get out again, I can look back on this time and relive the wonderful moments of acceptance and love.

Hugs, Tina