: Walking between raindrops :
Another day, another job interview. Today was just a quickie, about 30 minutes with the executive recruiter for one of the major global PR firms. She mentioned that their Dallas office is desperately looking for someone with energy experience, which I have in spades. She's going to see if they would want someone who can work for them out of the New York office. That would be kind of ironic if I moved myself all this way, only to get a job where I report to an office in Dallas.
I've finally figured out what probably every woman in Manhattan has already figured out - bring a pair of comfortable shoes to walk in and change in the elevator or the restroom before you arrive at your destination. It's even more important on days like today when it's raining, and any shoes you wear are going to get wet and soiled. So I wore my black Nike "Chuck Taylor"-style shoes outside and changed to my dress shoes in the building lobby.
Tomorrow I have another interview with the firm I talked to last week, and I'm going to take their writing test. They are probably the hottest job prospect right now. And today, while I'm driving through the Lincoln Tunnel from New Jersey to New York, I get calls from two recruiters who are trying to set up interviews for me. Amazingly, my cell phone works in the tunnel, which runs under the Hudson River. One of them booked a meeting for Monday afternoon, and the other one is trying to get me something at a New Jersey firm. That would be good for me because I wouldn't have to commute so long, but the pay will undoubtedly be lower, so it's a trade-off. But it would be so nice to spend less time on the train and fighting traffic.
I'm still dealing with all kinds of issues stemming from my move and transition. My mail has not yet been forwarded to my new address, despite two forwarding orders and two calls to the U.S. Post Office. Who knows how much mail I've lost at this point - I HATE the Post Office! No wonder "postal" is synonymous with rage killing. Also, I still haven't received my new health insurance card with my new name, although I can print a temporary one from the Web site. I also sent in a request to my endo in Houston to reissue my prescriptions in my girl name so they match my legal ID, so hopefully next month that will be corrected.
Despite all the problems and hurdles I've encountered, it's still such a thrill for me to be here, living a longed-for dream. I distinctly remember a moment this afternoon, walking on 51st Street on a windy, rainy day and looking at the dour faces of New Yorkers passing me on the street. I couldn't suppress a smile because of the joy I felt inside me, just to have this chance to live my life on my own terms. After so many years of pretending to be someone I'm not, and trying to fit my round self into a square life given to me, just the simple act of walking in the rain under my Monet Water Lilies umbrella is a gift.
I've finally figured out what probably every woman in Manhattan has already figured out - bring a pair of comfortable shoes to walk in and change in the elevator or the restroom before you arrive at your destination. It's even more important on days like today when it's raining, and any shoes you wear are going to get wet and soiled. So I wore my black Nike "Chuck Taylor"-style shoes outside and changed to my dress shoes in the building lobby.
Tomorrow I have another interview with the firm I talked to last week, and I'm going to take their writing test. They are probably the hottest job prospect right now. And today, while I'm driving through the Lincoln Tunnel from New Jersey to New York, I get calls from two recruiters who are trying to set up interviews for me. Amazingly, my cell phone works in the tunnel, which runs under the Hudson River. One of them booked a meeting for Monday afternoon, and the other one is trying to get me something at a New Jersey firm. That would be good for me because I wouldn't have to commute so long, but the pay will undoubtedly be lower, so it's a trade-off. But it would be so nice to spend less time on the train and fighting traffic.
I'm still dealing with all kinds of issues stemming from my move and transition. My mail has not yet been forwarded to my new address, despite two forwarding orders and two calls to the U.S. Post Office. Who knows how much mail I've lost at this point - I HATE the Post Office! No wonder "postal" is synonymous with rage killing. Also, I still haven't received my new health insurance card with my new name, although I can print a temporary one from the Web site. I also sent in a request to my endo in Houston to reissue my prescriptions in my girl name so they match my legal ID, so hopefully next month that will be corrected.
Despite all the problems and hurdles I've encountered, it's still such a thrill for me to be here, living a longed-for dream. I distinctly remember a moment this afternoon, walking on 51st Street on a windy, rainy day and looking at the dour faces of New Yorkers passing me on the street. I couldn't suppress a smile because of the joy I felt inside me, just to have this chance to live my life on my own terms. After so many years of pretending to be someone I'm not, and trying to fit my round self into a square life given to me, just the simple act of walking in the rain under my Monet Water Lilies umbrella is a gift.
