Family in New Mexico and a Surprise

Most of my immediate family knew I had breast augmentation surgery and was slowly transitioning.  There were a few members of my dad’s family that didn’t know.  MY dad’s brother Tom lives in Albuquerque New Mexico and I probably haven’t seen him in 6 years.  He and my dad were close when I was young his daughter Misty is more like a sister to me than my own sisters, we are that close.  I was the middle child and only boy.  I have an older sister Jennifer and younger sister Sarah.  Jennifer is three years older than me Misty is two years older than me so in age including her two brothers Patrick and Tommy.

Jennifer 16

Misty 15

Me 13

Patrick 13

Tommy 11

Sarah 10

We all grew up together and migrated to separate parts of the world.  Jennifer lives in Dallas with her husband and two kids.  Sarah lives in Austin with her 3 kids.  I live in Greenville with my two kids.  Misty lives in Mesquite with her 2 kids.  Patrick was in the army but now a Police Officer with Milwaukee with his wife and son.  Tommy is a police officer in Albuquerque.  My Uncle Tom and Aunt Susan moved to New Mexico for his job with the Air Force 10 years ago. 

Anyway I was going to be in New Mexico for work and wanted to have dinner with my uncle and aunt.  I got into town on a Sunday and was in meetings Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and returned home Friday.  Going through the airport is always an adventure made it through OK.  Arrive in time to meet my uncle and aunt and Chili’s in Albuquerque for dinner.  It took them a little by surprise but they warmed up to me we talked about the girls and how things were going.  I enjoyed the meal.  

They asked if I wanted to have dinner with Tommy, his daughter, and them Tuesday evening.  I of course accepted.  After my meeting Tuesday I met them at their house.  We went on to have dinner at the Monte Carlo steakhouse.  We get there and they see Tommy and his daughter Heather and we go and sit down.  Heather is 4 and I have never met her so we sit down and I see this young lady sitting next to Heather and assume it is Tommy’s girlfriend when she stands up and we see each we are in total amazement.  It was Tommy.  Tommy is now Brittany.  She has full custody of her daughter and raises her.  We had a lot of similar experiences raising daughters as single fathers and had the same embarrassments.  Heather calls Brittany mommy or daddy whichever she happens to say at the time.  I was like Brittany we haven’t seen each other in years she was like at least 4 years. 

As much as I would like to say we had changed we picked up where we left off and became thick as thieves again.  Misty had explained to her parents I looked different, but didn’t say how different.  But didn’t say anything to me about Brittany so I thanked her for the heads up she was like I told you, you and Tommy have a lot in common and she was right we do.  My aunt was like had she known Tommy was going to become Brittany she would have kept all of Misty’s old clothes and handed them down.  Overall my aunt and uncle were exceptionally supportive but it was because they had a transgender daughter and I didn’t know that at the time. 

I asked Brittany how Heather took the transition, but Brittany transitioned when Heather was two so really hasn’t known anything else and Heathers mom doesn’t want to be part of her life.  This is a shame.  They asked about Johnna and Reagan and how they took it I explained it was a slow transition so it took some getting used to but they are OK.  Apparently Brittany started her transition shortly after I started mine.

Brittany is still a police officer I asked her how that had evolved.  She stated she had to take quite a bit of crap, I completely understood.  She was stating that when she went to work as Brittany her first day her female patrol sergeant told her she needed to go get a female bullet proof vest one with a place for your boobs so she went to the supply officer to get that and the officer looked at her like she was crazy.  No such thing existed.  Other than that she gets asked all the time when she’s irritated if it is her time of the month.  If she wants a pink gun, I laugh because I still wouldn’t want to get into a fight with her. 

Half way through dinner my aunt starts snickering.  I was like what.  She said 4 years ago we had 3 boys 3 girls now we have 5 girls and Patrick.  I asked about how Patrick was taking it and Patrick took it like a champ. 

They asked me how Jennifer and Sarah took it I explained that Jennifer wished for me not to be part of their lives and Sarah and I have dinner once or twice a month.  Sarah teases me about being just the middle child now instead of the only boy. 

I am glad I met with them.  We had dinner once more and Brittany and I went out for drinks once more.  This Thanksgiving I am taking my daughters to have Thanksgiving with them as Patrick and Misty are coming out and my dad is having Thanksgiving with my sisters.