Blessed Beyond Words

This is reality. I am by no means the prettiest girl in the world. My real hair is evolving. But let me tell you, this girl is on a high beyond anything she has ever felt.

July 17, 2025, I played pickleball! Why is that of any note? One, I hadn’t played in a few months with the lipoma, arthritis and tendonitis in my left shoulder (the results of the recent MRI). I could have played but just lost the desire. But this day, I put on my pink tennis dress, fussed with my own hair, drove about 45 minutes to Studio West 117 (LGBT complex, including a gym and open pickleball) and walked into the gym not knowing what to expect. Yeah, I know, big deal, you walked into an LGBT gym. There were six others there and I am fairly certain, none of them were a part of the community. They were simply friends playing a game they love knowing they can do so here easily (court logistics can be a pain).

After getting my legs back underneath me and getting used to the sightlines and court lines, I had a ball! To play, to do so in a dress, with a dangling necklace and earrings, with my breasts, it was amazing. I have never felt more female in my life! This is different than feeling feminine (wedding dress hits the feminine peak), but I was a woman. Everyone called me “she”. My mannerisms, very naturally, were female. My walk, playing with the necklace between points, how I called out the score in my girl voice without trying to do so, on and on. It may well be the first time I knew what it was like to be “me” (I don’t love the cliches like “authentic self” etc.). I was clearly the best or at worst second best player there, I played and competed at the top of my game. Slams, dinks, stupid shots. I talk constantly while playing, 99.9% supportive of my partner and the opponents. When I mess up, I am self-critical and I (without thinking) kept saying, “Come on girl!” when I made an error.

The others asked when I would be back, and I can tell you; this will be a Kandi staple activity! Me, no wig, no padding, just me, competing, and at my best as a woman. True blessing!

I stopped at a local bar to have a beer, sit at the bar and simply stretch the outing.

Look at the absolute joy in my aged, craggy face..

Summer Shandy?

July 18, 2025, right back out the door. First stop a fitting for the fundraiser I mentioned recently. I will be in a vintage Hawaiian stewardess uniform. The pilot jacket didn’t work, this one did, for sure! I had a joyful time working with my friend Jackie and meeting the women who run the museum. I also met another local TV anchor who will also be walking the show. I pretty much know (and they know me by name) at least five local female TV personalities.

I then hit the lakefront and did a little photoshoot on an absolutely humidity-free, glorious day. I love the happenstance of the plane in the opening picture.

Next was lunch with my friend Debbie, whom I met at CIFF a few months back. It was just a wonderful time, two women getting to know each other. Debbie is my senior and is learning about folks like me, so she had many questions. The waitress from the day prior, same restaurant, remembered my order from the previous day. I zigged and went with something else, but we will find out, I always return to the favorites.

Needing to kill an hour plus, I hit a thrift where I picked up two too-young-for-me-but-way-cute dresses and a fab sweater. I lingered trying on many items, including some vintage slips. That took me back to my youth and I cannot get one particular slip off my mind, so I may return… A cocktail at Jukebox and then over to 78th Street Studios for Third Friday and my great, great friends, Jennifer, Andy and Steve.

We had so much fun! Then we went right back to The Harp, where I had a shandy the day prior after pickleball, lunch that afternoon with Debbie and now the four of us and dinner (and back to the shandy). Whew!

Ain’t I a lucky girl?

The outfit was perfection!