Blasts From The Past

One of my favorite bloggers and real-life friends is Fuzzy Galore.  Isn't that the cutest name?!  Well, Fuzzy just invited us to do something I applaud -- highlight five of our best old posts so new readers can find them.

This solves a problem I've complained about before.  The structure of blogs -- i.e., their chronological scroll -- hides our past work in the deep recesses of computer-memory.  New readers rarely unearth those gems which sit neglected in obscurity, like unworn diamonds.

Fuzzy suggests we compile a list of five old posts that mean something to us and offer them to the world for a new look.  Great idea.  Fuzzy, you're as bright as you are beautiful.  :-)

Here are my five, with a little explanation:

1. Before I came here, I started my blogging life on the outdated forum of Live Journal.  One or two of you discovered me way back then, but only a few of you know about those humble beginnings.  I migrated here because pictures on LJ looked awful due to the site's technical limitations.

My earliest posts possess the uncertainty and nervous apprehension of most inaugural work.  That anxiety was particularly heightened by the fact that I was, for the first time, revealing my transgendered nature in public.  To the WORLD.  With unknown consequences on my life, my career, my happiness.

I worried about what was ahead of me if I pursued this path -- but I knew from five decades of experience what was going to happen if I didn't summon my courage and push forward -- i.e., more of the same.  More regret about a life not lived, more hidden longing for female experience, and more sadness about not being seen for who I am.  That bleak prospect urged me to venture bravely into the dark unknown.

I expressed these thoughts, for the first time in public, here.

2. My first outfit-post.  Ever.  Of course I look bad, but that shouldn't obscure the significance of my posting these pictures publicly for anyone to see.  With this post, I pushed open a door to a Brave New World.  And never looked back.  Here

3. The Prom Project.  Most of you have seen this before, so I won't elaborate on it beyond saying the post was HUGE in my growth as a blogger and a person.  Making the post taught me I can pursue my dreams.  Showing the post taught me there are compassionate people out there willing to accept and befriend me.

4. I blew another door open, with increasing confidence, when I posed naked on the Internet.  NAKED.  On the INTERNET.  Here

5. In recent times, I've achieved a profound level of happiness mixing whimsy, joy and friendship to form a potent potion to cure my previous ailment.  Here is one example of many I've created doing this.  Here

Did you learn anything new about me?

If you want to participate in this project, go to Fuzzy's blog and she'll link to your blog.