by Aimee Norin
The one who is different, then, may not feel able to revel as much in his own identity, may not reach his full potential, may not be able to contribute to society his genius at solving a problem, or not feel as able to share his wisdom, his diplomacy, his strength, or his love.
What is needed, then, is greater consideration of equal rights. People are not all the same; in fact, people are all different. But all persons have the same value, the same right to be, and should be equal both before the law and in the mind of society.
Thank you, Steven Spielberg, Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, Colman Domingo, James Spader, and every other wonderful film maker on the project-and thank you President Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln, Congressman Stevens, Private Harold Green, and W. N. Bilbo, and everyone else who helped in history to fight oppression and embrace our fellow humans.
This film and these acts in history are not just about themselves, to me. They're also about trans populations and hearts who are different, who haven't yet found equality, and yet whose lives matter just as much.
Aimee Norin
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aimee Norin writes about transsexual and transgender experiences in an effort to entertain and illustrate aspects of phenomena which are rarely shared. Ideologies are usually in dispute, so in her books, characters experience lives and share views which are all different. Usually, there are multiple views given within each novel, and some novels as a whole present views quite different from other Aimee Norin novels. As well, her characters are normal in their humanity in that they also have issues in life with which they struggle while they search for love and happiness.
Trans lifestyles are not yet commonly accepted in most societies, and transpersons are usually heavily schachtered on an ongoing basis, with daily diminutions, or "daily dimunitions," as they are sometimes felt. Prejudices and oppressions, soft and loud, misleading and painful, can exist for a transperson throughout life in more ways that can be known or counted-not just in larger, social exclusions but also in assumptions closer people make that also keep transpersons on the fringe. A person living in these lifestyles may have to deal with all that on a daily basis-while at the same time needing to wear a smile, interacting with those same, oppressive people at work, in public, or at home, in such a way as to downplay internal fear and pain: smiling while hurting.
Saying things are fine when they're not.
Aimee's experience is that most people do not really understand transpersons and tend to keep them at arm's length. People have opinions, and they may believe they understand-because they've treated patients, or known some transpersons elsewhere, or had one in the family. But those contacts are superficial and rare compared to a mutually interactive, decades-long, daily involvement, through every situation good and bad, or even actually being a transperson in self.
Aimee believes if most people got to know transpersons more closely-if they gained enough trust to be admitted to inner thoughts and private experiences, if they were to show the courage to ask insightful questions, if they were open to new ideas as they emerged-a different, more human, and more genuine reality could well emerge with reasons revealed for things that, before, had previously seemed eccentric or even spurious. Instead of a transperson appearing to be someone who is unduly concerned about social rejections or prospects, real reasons may be revealed that indicate the transperson is dealing with issues of which others are unaware-yet who, still and at the same time, needs to function as the helpful co-worker, the friendly neighbor, the loving husband, the devoted wife, the inspiring parent, the loyal friend.
Being a transperson takes more courage and inner strength than most people begin to conceive.
As such, a greater effort is needed to peer into the heart of transfolks-to see what is really there, what is really being dealt with, much of which is likely not shared-and to convey a greater and more sincere compassion than previously considered.
CONTACT AIMEE NORIN
[email protected]
https://aimeenorin.wordpress.com/
Because I have been offering these novels for free, I must schedule most of my time for other occupations, and hence, I cannot manage most correspondence as often as I'd prefer. As a consequence, I may find it best to respond to most concerns in the aggregate on my web log, or Facebook, or Twitter, and even then, perhaps, intermittently. Please do write, though, as I do read them. Your comments and feedback are most appreciated and valued.
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
"Someone like you should understand!" The bloodied young woman scolded Lourdes for no reason other than her presence.
Chapter 2
Lourdes watched herself throw a small overnight bag on the bed and stuff it with essentials.
Chapter 3
High over western New Mexico...
Chapter 4
During the week of the airshow at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Wittman Regional becomes the busiest airport in the world.
Chapter 5
"Ok," Jim said to her. "I'm an international jewel thief!"
Chapter 6
"He'll have a vat of Tobasco with a little dish of butter sauce, and I'll have the salmon with mashed potatoes."
Chapter 7
Two pilots talking planes: that is a cliquish conversation. Two pilots shopping for camping supplies at Oshkosh: that is a specialty.
Chapter 8
Crrrack! A bolt of lightning seared the night sky in a jagged path from cloud to cloud, its thunder shaking everything for miles.
Chapter 9
"You go to church anywhere?" she asked.
"Every day," he answered. "Mine is the church of life. I worship, as it were, every time I breathe, every time I see, every time I love someone. I'm in church right now."
Chapter 10
Pioneer Field was another example of heaven on earth. Antique airplanes being restored, old-style hangars, a grass stip. Lourdes could just about see Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart working on planes.
Chapter 11
His kiss never ended but changed into a caress with his lips on hers, moving back and forth to feel them, then nibbling her lower lip with his teeth.
Chapter 12
"Matt Damon-! He doesn't look like Matt Damon! He's not nearly as good looking!"
Chapter 13
"Yank and bank?" he asked her?
Lourdes smiled at him. "Or as we say in Star Wars: 'tank and spank.'"
Chapter 14
"No. I'll be fine," she said. "It's not the flu. I just have to wait another few minutes?"
Chapter 15
Oh my God! No! He couldn't be! She panicked.
Chapter 16
"You're one of them!" Lourdes scolded, crawling out of her tent.
Chapter 17
"Why do you hate yourself so much?" Jim asked.
Chapter 18
"You know what? Not everyone cares about that," Jim said. "I know it's been something that you've carried around with you for decades, but we're not in the eighties any more."
Chapter 19
"What matters in life," Heath said, "is the golden moments. Especially the moments spent doing 'nothing,' when you simply appreciate being here."
Chapter 20
"Then I take out the leaf blower and clean the floors,
starting in the west so as to use the wind."
She laughed at him.
"It's harder than you think!" he said.
Chapter 21
"Because I'd like to ask you out on a date tonight," he said.
"And I'd like everyone there to know you're with me."
Chapter 22
"Okay," he said. "I voted for Steve Martin, because then as our President, when he was in the middle of the latest SNAFU, he could tell us all 'Well, excuuuuuuse meeeeeeee'!"
Chapter 23
People all around danced to the Steve Miller Band.
Lourdes stood frozen, touching Jim's chest, unable to think or move, let al
one dance, still lost in his kiss, and the song, and-
Chapter 24
The phone went silent for a second. "Lourdes! Is he with you!" Millie gasped and wheezed, laughing. "No! I think it's wonderful! Welcome to the family!" she said.
Chapter 25
"Are you kidding me?" she scolded him. "Five days I know you! I marry you, divorce you. I take half your farm 'cause you're so na?ve. And then I sell it because it turns out I'm the real thief."
Chapter 26
"You can really lecture me a new one, you know that?" he said.
"You, too," she said.
Chapter 27
That's why I don't melt down, nowadays," Mike said, "when I work another fear into my life. Because I learned fear is just an emotion. It's not a thought process. It's not a real thing in life like poverty or hate crimes. It's just an emotion, and my fear is in my head, not other people's."
Chapter 28
She knew what had happened, but she didn't feel like talking.
Chapter 29
The band outside switched to playing "Moonglow," a sentimental instrumental originally by the Benny Goodman Quartet with Lionel Hampton at the vibraphone.
Chapter 30
Rain fell down the clear plastic sides of the large vendor tent where Lourdes sat.
Chapter 31
"You're that T.O.R. lady? Your husband called out to me the other day about playing Star Wars?"
Chapter 32
With her own health bar at half, she hit her tab key to target the adds attacking her, and fired into them. They were weak, so they went down fast. She clicked on her own icon again to finish healing herself.
Chapter 33
She felt her stomach knot again as she banked her plane to the right, per NOTAM, away from everything there.
Chapter 34
As the sun drifted below the horizon, and the light faded, she laid her head on his shoulder and moved his hand over her heart.
