Good News

Stopped off at the pet store where we replenish our kitty litter supplies to find out that they were closing that location at the end of the month. Because it's on the way home, many of my stops there are after my gender counseling appointment, at which I almost always present as myself rather than in a culturally normative fashion.

On days when I was planning to stop at the pet store, I had been in the habit of choosing a presentation close enough to normative that I wouldn't feel uncomfortable in the store. One of the checkers, noticing the variant elements, commented favorably on them. This affirmation has encouraged me to expand the range of presentation I felt comfortable stopping in the store while wearing; it continues to be a significant part of our interaction.

Yesterday I was wearing a conservative, but definitely non-normative, outfit. The store was out of the litter we use, so I was going to have to leave without buying anything. On the way out, I went through the register "my" clerk was at to say goodbye. We chatted briefly about where other store locations are, and future plans for them and the (local) chain.

As I turned to head for the exit, they came out from behind the register, gave me a big, joyous hug, and said, "Goodbye. You're awesome!" Made my day!