Sabrina - "Traveling To Thompson, Manitoba" - April 14, 2005
For so many years now I have always enjoyed traveling en femme when away on business trips. Before becoming and "out and about" girl it was my own personal space. Perhaps since for most of my life I have never really had a place where I didn't have to worry about someone else walking in the door unannounced that these times were so special to me. However, I admit, that before 2001 I did stick to staying in the car! However, that all changed since 2001 after meeting so many others like me in TG Chat and then making so many wonder friends at the Winnipeg Social Club and Support Group - Masquerade! And now, being so "Out & About" it makes the traveling so much more fun! A "real life" experience. Not just pretending.
When
I found out about a business trip up to Thompson, Manitoba, for Thursday,
April 14, 2005, I just couldn't wait for yet another fun drive! The trip
would be about 8 hours so I would have a little time for shopping in Winnipeg
before I left! Some commitments at home gave me a late start and it was
already 1 PM by the time I was ready.
Since I was wearing my favorite "shopping outfit", a mini skirt and heels, I decided to spend a little time in Polo Park before leaving town. It was such a bright sunny day, yet it was so windy so I parked under the second level parking to avoid a serious "bad hair day".
It is always fun shopping with my girlfriends from Masquerade, yet there is something so special about being out by yourself. My first stop was Aldo shoes to see if they had any boots in my size, which they didn't, so my next stop was at Payless Shoes where found a really nice pair of pumps with about a 3 inch heel. The only pair on display was an 11 W and I asked the clerk who was very courteous if they had the pair in a regular width. She went and checked their stock and was sorry she didn't have my size Oh well, more shopping.
So off I went through the mall, my heels clicking proudly on the tile floor, and noticing I was turning a few heads! (I just love that feeling) Back when I first started talking with others about going out I was told "Never wear a mini skirt to the mall!" But I have to say, the feeling is so wonderful and with the level of acceptance I have felt by almost everyone. My question is then "Why not?" If it feels right, then it is right!
After walking the length of Polo Park on both levels including the Sears store it was time to buy some makeup at Shoppers Drug Mart! I spent about 15 minutes in the cosmetic department with all the other "girls" and really didn't notice anyone giving me more than a passing glance. And when I made my purchase the cosmetician was very pleasant to!
Now it was time to start my journey up north! After leaving Polo Park I stopped at a McDonald's drive thru for some Chicken McNuggets (you just can't eat a hamburger without messing your face!) since I hadn't eaten all day and was getting a little hungry! Then it was time to head out and enjoy the trip! It was still very sunny, although still quite windy. So with the music playing I headed north on Highway #6, looking forward to my next adventure... a fuel stop!
Prior to 2001 I never traveled en femme when I was going far enough that a fuel stop would be required. Until then, I really hadn't been out into the real world. Yet now that I have seen first hand just how accepting people are, whether they read us or not, it is so much more fun just to go out and live my life they way I want to once in a while.
By 6:30 PM I had reached the small native reserve community of Grand Rapids, Manitoba, and stopped at the self serve Esso gas pumps for fuel. So there I stood, in my red leather mini skirt, pumps, a black t-shirt and PCV jacket, fueling my vehicle out in the middle of nowhere in northern Manitoba! I did notice a Harley Davidson parked in the lot and a dude in leather sitting next to the restaurant window checking me out. And I admit, that felt great! The clerk inside was very nice, asking if I was having a good day and all. Small talk and very pleasant. With my receipt in hand I walked back to my van and noticed I got the "thumbs up" from the dude in leather! Which I returned with a smile and was on my way!
I was hoping to get to Thompson while it was still daylight and places would be open so I could do a little shopping and get some pictures.But my little shopping trip to Polo Park kinda delayed me a little and it was going to be dark with everything closed by the time I got to Thompson....so I did the next best thing. Stopped on the highway at the "Thompson 106" sign, just to show how far up north I was! Traveling alone does have it's drawbacks. Getting pictures is kinda tricky and it took a few shots to get the one above! But so much fun too, standing on the highway and having the trucker who had been at the Esso in Grand Rapids give me a toot with his air horn as he passed by! I guess it's not every day you run into a girl in a mini skirt standing on the side of the highway up in the middle of northern Manitoba.
I finally arrived in Thompson just before 10 PM and it was the end of another fun day out and about as Sabrina. Since room reservations had been made for me, I had to change back to the boring guy who was to do the checking in!
Thanks for reading my story,
Sabrina
E-mail me at sabrina_markes@masquerade.ca
Member of the Winnipeg support group - "Masquerade"