The night before a trip, I can never get enough sleep. There are always last-minute preparations, and I was unable to find a part that enables me to use the full-size tripod that I was planning to bring with my camera, so I decided to leave it at home. I also decided to leave my laptop computer at home as well.
The morning of the flight, I was my usual frantic self. When I finally left the house, wearing the one male outfit that I brought with me, I caught a bus to the BART station, but just missed a train going toward the Oakland Airport. So I had to wait 15 minutes for the next one, and had to take a cab the short distance from the BART station to make it to the plane on time. I had just two pieces of carry-on luggage, and so was able to proceed directly through security to the gate. I was delayed there as the security guard carefully inspected each item in my camera bag.
When I made it to the gate, I was asked the security questions, and given a boarding pass for the last group to board the plane there. My drivers' license was not checked! This flight originates in the Los Angeles area, and continues to Oakland, Seattle, and Spokane, and when I boarded I had to settle for the middle seat between two other passengers.
The weather was beautiful for most of the trip. The typical low clouds over San Francisco Bay were beginning to break up, and beyond there the weather was clear and sunny. The pilot called off several landmarks as we passed them, including the city in Oregon where a friend lives. I waved to her through the window, from seven miles up and many miles to the east!
The flight actually arrived early in Seattle. I didn't see Brenda, who had planned to meet me at the airport. So I went downstairs to the car rental counter, and completed the paperwork for the car that I had reserved. I then went back upstairs, got some coffee and a muffin from a Starbuck's coffee stand there, and waited for a while for Brenda. I didn't see her there, so I took the courtesy bus to the off-airport location of the car rental agency and picked up the car that I had reserved. I wasn't familiar with the latest symbols on the controls, and had to have someone show me how to turn off the emergency flashers, which had been left on!
The scheduled check in time at the motel wasn't until 2:00 p.m., so I drove a ways past it and explored a bit. Then I came back, checked in, and was met by Brenda as I was leaving the motel office! She had followed my steps through the airport, and had tried to page me, but I never heard it. I was very glad to see her, and asked her to give me an hour to unpack and change.
I then went to my room, and got out of my male clothes. They remained in the bottom of my suitcase for the remainder of the trip. I put on my makeup and wig, and my banana-colored floral dress. She then came to pick me up, and drove me first to the Space Needle. I had been there for the World's Fair in 1962, and also in 1989, but this was my first visit there en femme! We rode up to the observation deck, and took pictures of each other using her digital camera and my conventional one. Some of these are shown below.
Me in the parking lot before our ascent of the Space Needle
Me on the
observation deck of the Space Needle.
The King Dome and the Seattle Skyline are visible in the
background.
Brenda and me atop the Space Needle
We then descended in the elevator, and rode the monorail to its downtown terminal at the Westlake Center. We wandered around there, and Brenda took several more pictures of me, some of which are shown below.
Me at the Westlake Center, after a ride on the Monorail from Seattle Center
A close-up shot there, with many thanks to Brenda and her photography with the digital camera.
We then walked to the nearby Nordstrom's Rack for the first of our many shopping excursions together. I ended up with a beautiful red dress which Brenda found for me. Unfortuately, it didn't quite fit, but it looked like it would with minor alterations so I bought it. I had to show my drivers' license to pay with a travellers' check; the clerk just copied down the information, without comparing the description and picture on it to me!
Brenda also bought some items, and we both found some jewelry on sale! Brenda and I found a matching set of faux pearls, a necklace, earrings, and bracelet, which were substantially marked down, which I discovered go well with many of my outfits. I also stopped at the drug store across from the monorail terminal, and bought some items that I wanted for the remainder of the trip, including some bubble bath powder.
We rode the monorail back to the Space Needle, and then went to the Ingersoll Center for a group meeting there. Afterwards, we went to Bill's for dinner, then out dancing at a nonstop club called Neighbor's. This old gal is unfamiliar with the contemporary dancing, but did her best to keep up with Brenda and the other friends who had come along. Afterwards, she dropped me off at my motel, and we agreed to meet there the following day. I took off my clothes and makeup, put on my newly-purchased lilac nightie, and enjoyed a good night's sleep.
This page last updated: April 05, 2000
