Twen-Dee Twen-Dee-Five in Review, Part 1

Time for a look back at the year.

From a quick count of my Google Photos account, I Dee-termined I’ve been out Fif-Dee times so far this year, or roughly once a week. Ten years ago, the idea I would go out dressed fifty times in a year would have never crossed my mind. 

My 2025 started a few day before the beginning of the year at the Fiftieth Birthday party for my bestie, Michelle. One of the other things that would have never crossed my mind ten years ago would be that Dee had girlfriends. Nor could I have imagined outing myself to the wife of a long time friend, Ms. Dee-ism, but life would be a lot duller without their participation in my girl life. Meeting Michelle was accidental, outing myself to Ms. Dee-ism was intentional, but both were rewards for taking chances.

I started the year ordering a yellow bikini online from White House Black Market, hoping to bring it with me for my annual January pilgrimage to Australia. Unfortunately, the US Postal Service decided my purchase deserved the scenic tour, spending a couple of weeks in transit to arrive after my wife and I departed for Down Under. Michelle offered to come to our house to get it and mail it to me, but given she’d have to explain who she was to our adult son (who lives with us) and why she’d be sending a package from a woman’s store to his dad, I declined the offer and decided I could wait until I arrived back in the US.

To make up for it, on a day trip out in Melbourne at a Salvo’s, I found a sporty orange bikini, some red swim bottoms (to match a top I already had), and a black one-piece, to add to my collection. As our apartment (in a Melbourne suburb) is near the beach, I managed three bikini/swim days in the Australian summer sun.

I managed a couple other times out dressed while down under (my opportunities were limited by our adult son coming to visit for a month), including a couple of visits to my favourite down under store, Dangerfield. My one buy was a cute, flowered dress. My other buy was while I was “undercover”–i.e., guy mode. At a nearby Salvo’s (Salvation Army store) I spotted a Wonder Woman dress. After trying it on–and it fit–buying it was a no brainer. I figured I would find a place to wear it–and Hallow-Dee-n was always an option.

As my wife stays in Australia a couple of months longer than me, I have an extended period of additional dressing freedom (although not unlimited, as we have an adult son who lives with us). 

I took advantage of the absence by nights out with Michelle, my friend Falon, lunch with friend Karla, dinners and lunches with the St. Louis Gender Foundation members, and solo days and nights out–including a Cardinals game against Dee-troit. The mouse played while the cat was away.

More 2025 next week.