Today, this blog is one years old. If it were a baby, we’d have baked a cake, taken pictures of the blog eating the cake with its hands, and then posted the pictures with some sort of boasting statement about how our blog is cuter than all the other kids. It has been one year since I started putting my thoughts into strings of rambled sentences, hoping someone might read and connect to the words. At the very least, I sought a place to remind others that “T” is definitely for Transgender, but “S” is not often far behind representing Spouse.

Below is a map of all the countries where readers have come from. As it stands now, this blog has reached 10,040 visitors. I don’t say this to brag. I say this to reinforce the idea that you, my dear reader, are not alone. 10,040 people somehow stumbled upon this blog since its inception. That’s 10,040 people who presumably want to learn more about transgender issues, who are also seeking comradery in the anonymity of the internet. I find a tremendous amount of solace in that.

An update: I haven’t written in a long time because my life has been busy and writing took a back-burner to everything else. The Campfire inspired a last-minute trip home and the emotional toll it’s had on mine and Katie’s life is unexpected as someone who doesn’t even live in Chico anymore. I spent a week volunteering with United Way, helping those in my community gain access to emergency funding. If one is going to look for a silver lining in wake of total devastation (which we should), the beautiful part of the experience was a renewed appreciation for how fundamentally good everyone in the world really is. At a time when the world has never felt more divided, I saw humankind show up for one another, no matter their race, gender, politics, or religion, always asking what more they could do to help. I was thanked by everyone for volunteering, by the people who lost everything and looked at me with the blank stare of shock. Witnessing this kindness in parallel to the total devastation my home-community experienced is something I will never, ever forget.

Katie and I are doing very well, just bumbling through one day at a time. On Friday, December 7^th, we go to King County District Court so Katie can declare that she is ready to change her name. A date which will live in infamy for many more reasons than Roosevelt ever thought possible. I wonder what the man would say about it if given the opportunity. I promise to provide more updates soon. For now, I’m going to go enjoy the dinner Katie made and a glass of wine. The blog and I deserve it.