Bren's Departure, Saturday, February 13, 1999

Today I woke up early with my clock radio, prepared myself, and selected a Pretty in Pink outfit for myself, with a bright pink mock turtle sweater, a pink and green skirt, and a pale pink wool-cashmire blend jacket. I walked to Bren's room at the nearby motel, and went in to help her get ready. She had called an airport shuttle service, and let me know what time it was scheduled. I then went across the street, and got some coffee and muffins for each of us at the coffee shop there.

I helped Bren carry her three bags to the van when it arrived. There were two other passengers beside the driver. From there, the van went directly to the airport, although the driver realised that he was in the lane for the other airport at one point, and quickly corrected that! The weather was partly cloudy, although rain was forecast for later in the day.

The van arrived in plenty of time for Bren's flight, but we had to wait in a long line at the check-in counter to check her bags. Some people arriving at the last minute for an earlier flight were allowed to go ahead of us. Also just ahead of us in line was a large guide dog in training with its handler.

We then proceeded to security. Bren's belt buckle tripped the metal detector, and she was then examined using a hand metal detector by a security guard, as I had been on an earlier visit to the airport. We proceeded to the boarding gate, and spent our last time together talking. Shortly before the flight was called, we asked a gentleman to take our pictures, using first Bren's digital camera, then my own simple camera. This picture is one that Bren edited from that image. I then gave Bren a succession of hugs, one from all of our friends in the chat rooms, and one from me.

I stayed at the airport for a while after the flight had departed. I had another cup of coffee and a pastry at the cafe there, and read a newspaper that had been left on the table. I was feeling sad, and sorry that we hadn't had more time to spend together. Bren had taken me all over Seattle while I had been there, and had introduced me to many of her friends there. But alas, there wasn't the time for me to do the same during her short visit.

I didn't feel like going directly home, but in my mood I didn't feel like doing much either, so I boarded a local bus, which after a long route from the airport would end in the Jack London Square area, where Bren and I had been on the previous day. I wandered around the area, and had lunch at a Mexican Restaurant there. I browsed through the boutique shops there, but didn't buy anything. Then I walked back to the large bookstore there, and was pleased to find a copy of Gender Outlaw by Kate Bornstein, which I purchased. By then it was beginning to rain, and I began reading the book while riding a bus home.

That evening I went into the TG Forum chat room, and found many of my friends there. Later Bren came in, and I was relieved that she had gotten home safely. She left earlier than I, and I didn't have the chance to ask her for a copy of the digital picture displayed above. Both then and the following day I was depressed, missing Bren, wanting a copy of that picture, and regretting that I had not been able to do more with Bren while she was here.

I pass the motel where Bren stayed almost daily, and think of her fondly whenever I pass the rear of her room, often with tears starting to form in my eyes.