SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2024 - WOMEN'S WEEK - PART III

 SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2024 - INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S WEEK - PART III

The Great Experiment - part III

Credentials - check - I am a woman (excuse me - HALLELUJAH!!!)

So, Karen, as one of the few who has experienced both sides of the male/female spectrum, what are your thoughts?

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GOD IS GOOD!!

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I like who I am - although there are times I feel old and depressed.  

CLOTHES:

In any store that sells clothes - the space allocated to women’s clothes is generally two to three times as big as those allocated to men’s clothes.

I needed to shop at thrift shops—and again, the space for women’s clothes was at least twice as big. Women’s fashions change—colors change. I used to joke that in our closet, my wife got 2/3rds of the space, but now I really understand it. My closet is full. I can’t wear the same thing twice in a row; that isn’t appropriate!!  Black dresses - of course!!  I need black dresses for my orchestra concerts.  Red dresses - of course.  I (think I) look good in red.  There are the winter red dresses and the summer red dresses.  Skirts - yes.  I love my colorful skirts (but then I need to coordinate with skirts with tops.  

Shoes - I must wear dressy and casual shoes, and I need multiple colors.  Shoes can be expensive - and I have to be careful.  The adage, “She who dies with the most shoes wins,” - isn’t entirely accurate (and as compared to my ex-wife) 

Multiple people have given me clothes. Of the clothes in my closet,  60% were gifts. Last week, a lady gave me a beautiful 

Some days, I wear dress shoes (usually my black dress shoes) for morning events and tennis shoes for my work at the nursing home.  I have purchased some black loafers, but they only work for short periods as they don’t fit well.  I would wear size 12 or even 12.5 shoes in a wide width - but those aren’t common in most shoe departments.  I found some bigger shoes at Wal-Mart - maybe not the best quality, but they fit my budget. 

SHOPPING

I shop at the Caring Place (thrift shop), Stone Haven (thrift shop—and my bridge group location), and Assistance League (thrift shop). I generally don’t shop at Goodwill—prices are almost the same as new clothes. (Assistance League clothes are 75% off this week as they want to clear out the winter clothes and get the summer clothes out.  I also shop at Wal-Mart for things you can’t really get at thrift shops. BUT - I don’t NEED the clothes - but they are lovely!!)

WOMEN’S THINGS

I like to cook.  (I don’t like to clean up).  I’ve used the crock pot for a lot of meals (Aldi’s has a great crockpoit potroast). I got a double boiler to cook potatoes.  I’ve made my own mashed potatoes and put potatoes into stews.

I know I need fiber, and thus I cook a lot of beans and related foods.  

Cleaning - oops - not a priority

I like to do laundry and iron (not many things need ironing).  At my apartment complex, I can start a laundry load, then use the treadmill for the time to wash (change the load) and dry.  

I love my earrings.  Three years ago, one of my pierced ear lobes split all the way through, so I had to get a second piercing.  I have over 25 different sets of earrings.  

I have many necklaces.  One of my friends made a necklace for me, and another fixed a necklace that had come apart.  

I love wearing some simple make-up (lipstick and coloring my eyebrows).  I used cheap (Dollar Tree) lipstick for a while, and recently tried some more expensive lipstick.  I like it better (so far anyway).

I’ve tried lots of things with my hair.  Currently I’m growing it out, so I have a ponytail frequently.  I like to get the hair behind my ears (so my earrings show up).  

MORE

In the past, one of my favorite “holidays” was Halloween.  I loved getting dressed up.  One Halloween I got a dress and shoes from Goodwill and was “Miss White - Spinster” for the day.  Okay, every day is almost like Halloween for me.  I get to pick an outfit - joy of joys. (The picture today is a fancy gown given to me last week.)

I was asked not to use the ladies restroom at my church.  I guess the thought is that transgender women prey on unexpecting girls.  (At age 76, that is NOT an issue - and never was).  Some states have promulgated legislation that a person must use the bathroom corresponding to our gender as birth.  NO, I will NOT use a male bathroom.  I can’t use the urinal - and even if I could I wouldn’t!! (Men can spray and under urinals the tile is discolored and smelly - yuck!!)

It is a pretty petty thing - to change churches because of denied bathroom privileges.  

I LOVE GOD - even more than ever.  (And, my faith has generally been strong).  God has blessed me so many ways.  I see God as the INFINITE, ALL LOVING entity.  I still use “God the FATHER” - as “God the MOTHER” seems a little strange.  “Almighty God” might be better.  

Life is awesome on this side of the fence.  

LOVE WINS

LOVE REALLY DOES TRANSFORM PEOPLE

BE A LOVER - NOT A HATER

IF YOU HAVEN’T WALKED IN MY SHOES, DON’T JUDGE ME.

Karen Anne White, March 9, 2024

(Two additional comments:  I wouldn’t go back, even if I could.  My gender surgery was awesome.  I love my body and my image.  And, there are two things I am missing.  I miss my family - children and my five grandchildren.  I pray for reconciliation every day.  And, I miss having another person in my life.  And, no, I don’t want a man)