Music, Light, a Rose... and a Sasquatch??? – Part 1

By Norah Blucher

Well, I see I’ve got your attention now, so read on and I’ll explain. I’ve long warned that there is more to me than eating and shopping, and a recent outing of mine certainly showed that to be the case. This time I spent a weekend in Portland, Maine, right before Christmas. While I started the Holiday season off with Black Friday shopping, I wanted to bring it to a close with something decidedly different.

Portland is a place I have been to many times, though only once before en femme. Though not much more than a large town by most standards, Portland is the thriving metropolis of New England’s northern most state, and has a very Bostonian feel to it, with a quirky undercurrent that is all Maine. It is also known as a very diverse and welcoming place, and I decided to branch out a bit into new experiences, some of which I did not quite bargain for either.

Music to My Ears

The evening I arrived in Portland, I had tickets to the Christmas symphony, and this was a completely new experience for me all the way around. I’ve never been to one, and had yet to attend a formal event en femme, so here I was. Though one would normally assume this to be a formal event, Maine is a right informal place in many regards, and the guide that was sent with my ticket said that wearing jeans and a flannel or your winter best would both be acceptable so I was relieved to be comfortable in my tennis shoes and yoga pants.

You know me enough by now to see that for the pile of rubbish it is, LOL. No, I went all out of course! I broke out my favorite LBD with a festive looking jacket, and topped it all off with a black plumed fascinator clip. Brenda commented last time about my articles being akin to Russian novels, so I was trying to conjure my inner Lara Antipova without looking like a Bolshevik hooker.

The symphony hall was absolutely packed, and though I was slightly overdressed, I was glad to see flannels and jeans were not dominating the fashion scene. Many women wore simple, but festive dresses with boots, and a few others were more formal than me in rather exquisite satin dresses. I did not note many solo patrons though, as most seemed to be attending as couples, families, or groups, and with the focus on the performance, so no one really paid me any attention.

I had a great front row seat up in the Grand Tier as they called it, and it is hard to describe in words the experience of it all. I have been to concerts before, but always felt they were for the experience and the T-shirt, not the music, as the CD always sounds better. At a symphony, in a proper venue, the music just fills the room and you feel it as well. It just envelops you in the experience and is truly quite beautiful.

There was quite a mix of scores as well, not what I expected. Songs from seasonal movies like Home Alone and Elf were featured along with traditional favorites. The conductor also did a lot of speaking in-between scores as well, explaining fun facts and a history of each piece. I never knew the song “The First Noel” originated in Cornwall in the 13th century, did you?

Best of all were the acrobatics. Yes, the program stated something about Cirque de Symphony, and it turned out to be a sort of Cirque de Soleil that went along with the music. One chap twirled a giant hoop, even getting into the hoop, rolling and turning across the stage. Another acrobat dressed as Peter Pan and flew above the crowd during a score from “Hook”. The star though, in my opinion, was a girl who did an aerial ballet from hoops and poles 30 feet in the air. At one time she was twirling through the air on a large ribbon, wrapped herself up in it, and then quickly unraveled, rolling toward the stage like she was going to tumble, before catching herself and flying through the air! It was positively mesmerizing.

At the end the conductor had us all stand and join in with the chorus to sing the last parts. Now I’ve been told I have a sweet voice, but a singing voice it is not, so I just sort of hummed so as not to clear the hall in a stampede. As we started to leave, I was taking a picture of myself to show my viewpoint, and what I wore, and a nice young lady offered to take my picture. I’m standing in front of my seat and the view was right fabulous!

The Bachelorette?

Though I was a bit tired, I was not yet ready to call it a night and wandered across the street to a hotel restaurant for some food and a drink. I was seated at the bar, enjoying a drink and some scallops when a like minded couple, about my age, who had also attended the symphony came in and sat a few stools down from me. The bloke reminded me of the cartoon Cockney “Andy Capp” and she was quite a bubbly blonde, and I engaged them in some casual conversation about the show and the food and they were just a very likable sort.

She quickly proved to be a brassy sort as well, who at one point looked me up and down, saying something to the effect of “I love your vibe, tell me what’s going on here?” This was the first time civilians have ever asked about me, and they both actually were impressed with my presentation and bravery for being out. We were having a thoroughly enjoyable conversation about the symphony, Portland, etc., so when I decided to head down to a favorite place of mine that serves desert flavored drinks I asked them if they wanted to head over to continue the conversation and, they agreed. 

As we entered our destination, I found it most amusing when the girl suddenly looked down and was thoroughly amazed at my ability to navigate the cobblestone street in 3 inch suede heels. It was turning out to be a fabulous evening as we chatted about life, the holidays, broken relationships, my experiences as Norah, and how these two found each other and started dating. This was also my first time in a prolonged conversation with another GG as well. We admired each others jewelry, discussed fashion, and she remarked how great my makeup was. Though we had just met, it just felt like we had been friends forever.

I was never good with girls or relationships mind you, and in that realm I’m quite naïve, but in the world now as a female, I’m blind as a bloody bat. I look back and realize all the signs were there, and I totally played into the whole thing. Had I been in male mode, this much attention from a girl would have been obvious, but things hit a point where I realized this bird was more than just overly curious and had a clear thing for me! As in Norah. She played for both teams, and enjoyed a rather open relationship, so this chap was not exactly opposed to it either.

WHOA! Stop right there, let’s back this trolley right up. I made it very clear at this point that I was extremely sorry for any mixed signals on my end, but this was not something that was going anywhere. To him I was clear that if he had ulterior motives for letting her explore her other side, there was nothing in it for him as I’m girl’s only, but also had no desire to get between them either. On her end, she was actually a bit crushed to be right honest, and I assured her that I was thoroughly flattered at her interest, and found her to be an amazing girl, but I’m not a home wrecker, someone’s mistress, nor do I share well.

Please note that though this was not something I ever saw coming, and admit my own stupidity, but at no time did I feel unsafe. I was in a public place with others around, I’d been to this area many times over the years and knew my way around a fair bit, and had my own means of transportation via LYFT back to my hotel.

I was not right sure what to expect at this point, but kept my composure, and what ensued was actually a thoroughly open and honest conversation. She had a lot of friends within the LGBTQ community, but actually none with the T part. For starters, she was actually surprised to learn I’m not always Norah. I think we both agreed to having a lot of complication in our lives, and a lot to sort out. These two also had a lot of things to sort out together as well. I think girls are going to be way more than a curiosity for her, and I’m not sure he knows where to fit in.

Then at some point a lady walked into this place with a bucket of roses selling them. Is that a thing at a bar at midnight? What twisted “Twilight Zone” episode was I in? Anyway, the bloke goes and buys four of them, gives his lady three of them and me one. It was so, so strange, but I accepted it as a gesture that we were all okay, and enjoyed the rest of the evening, chatting as we had before.

As we parted ways we hugged goodbye, and as I got into my ride thoughts whirled through my head. For one, I do need to be more careful in the future. I’m usually very guarded around just men, and even around other CDs when meeting for the first time at least. I’ve dealt with the “tranny chasers” and such as well, though I did not feel targeted in any way on this one. It was I after all who kept this conversation going and invited them to the next place. I just got a bit more than I bargained for is all.

The irony of the night also struck me as well. Our tribe often has the dilemma of wondering how to break the ice when you meet someone, about our female side. Though this was not quite the same. Who ever has met someone as their female self and had to explain that you have another side that is male? Who? If you have, please tell us about it!

What a weird night, but in a strange way it also gave me hope. Though this rose had way too many thorns for my liking, there was a girl who actually met Norah and liked her for what she was! Perhaps my seemingly distant wish of finding someone to embrace both sides of me may not be a total dream. As I looked down at my actual rose I laughed to myself. I got a rose, but was still (thankfully) in a car heading away alone. Maybe this makes me the next Bachelorette who gets to pick next time? LOL.

To Be Continued

Wearing JustFab

Richard Gibson femulating in an episode of British television’s 'Allo 'Allo!

Happy New Year!

Wearing Nine West

John Inman femulating in an episode of British television's Are You Being Served?

Motherwear and Sisterwear

Home alone in my teens usually found me wearing items from my mother’s and sister’s wardrobes. Both were tall women, so their clothes fit me more or less despite my topping out at 6 feet 2. Yes, at that height, their skirts and dresses were “Stana short,” but since I was only dressing in the confines of my home, hemlines were not a deal breaker.

Middle-aged, Mom’s wardrobe was matronly, so I only borrowed from her collection of foundation garments, hosiery and high heels. On the other hand, my sister was just two years younger than me, so I used her wardrobe for her skirts, tops, dresses, etc., which were stylish for a girl my age.

Like me, Mom was very neat and organized, so when I borrowed something from her, I made a mental note of how it was folded and where it was stored so that when I returned it, she would not notice that it had been borrowed. 

My sister was not so neat and organized and when I borrowed something from Sis, I was not too concerned where I placed it on its return… as long as it was in the ballpark. And I believe that strategy worked and she never noticed because when I came out to her years later, she had no clue that I had borrowed her stuff.

Mom was a different story. Even though I was very careful, I guess left enough clues that she figured me out. Not sure where I fouled up. Perhaps I did not return a bra to its exact location. I dunno, but years later after I had moved out, I mentioned I was going to a Halloween party crossdressed and she asked me if I had taken my box of girly stuff that I had hidden (unsuccessfully) in my bedroom!

You can't fool mothers.

Wearing Ann Taylor

John D. Collins and Nicholas Frankau femulating in an episode of British television's 'Allo 'Allo!