(29) Christmas...

Love Christmas eve. Each year my youngest sister invites us around, it's madness.  Her youngest child still believes in Santa, so it's magical. Plenty of food and drink, hyper children and the chance for the family to get together.
My aunty asked me immediately how Tuesday had gone, she is still finding it difficult to get her head around the whole thing and was alarmed at the hormone process.  People seem to think that a course of injections and it's all sorted, the expression on peoples faces when I tell them its every 3months for the rest of Wills life!
Later on my youngest sister called me into the kitchen, she was a little tipsy. She put her arm around me and Will and told me how proud she was and amazed that I had come through it all as I had been a cow at times to Will, I did argue with the cow point and until it happens to her she can't knock my reaction! This did become a bit tearful as she went on telling me how proud she was.  Will cried with me as that is what happens when I get upset. I told my sis to stop as I find it hard to cope with people being sympathetic towards me, she told me I need to let my barriers down and accept sympathy as I can't keep doing this alone.
During the evening every time somebody called Will Rach, he replied by saying whats my name? I could tell my elder sister was uncomfortable with this.

Sophie's mum was collecting her from our house, I had not met her before but knew of her as she had been a lecturer at a college I use with my students.
Sophie's parents have no idea that Will was ever Rach, they have accepted him as male, even given Sophie the don't get pregnant chat.  I asked if she was going to call in for a coffee, she did. I knew this was going to be cringeworthy for Will incase I slipped up. It all went well I used the correct pro nouns, it was quite easy but then again I was under pressure.

Christmas Day...
Santa had been. Will was still in bed, how I wish for the days when they believed in him.
I am excited I still buy all surprise presents. I couldn't wait any longer it's time he was up, I stood at the bottom of the stairs ready to shout him. I shouted Will, how easy was that, I had done it!
Will sat and opened his presents, I had labelled everything with Will on.
Matt came around. Matt and Will exchanged gifts. Classic they had both written to Bro from Bro on the gift tags!
They both went to see their dad together, Will was not bothered, we have the same conversation every year, Will goes to keep Matt happy as he is in the middle living with him! They took their dads card, Will had written from Will, wish I could have been a fly on the wall.
Their dad opened it and just said, 'Matt and Will, who's Will'? Will said, 'Me'. He threw a look at Will, he explained it as a sort of 'whatever' look and he walked away. No hug or peck on the cheek, nothing different there then.
I received lots of Merry Xmas texts off friends and family throughout the morning.
I received one off my ex, he had played a big part in Wills early teen years, as we had lived together, Will had been close to him.  I told him that Rach was now Will and sent the blog link. He read it and sent a text saying 'Wow' and offering support.
Off to dinner we went.
On the way I asked Will not to challenge the name situation as my sis was finding it difficult. On the table Will had a place setting with Will written on.
Will was occasionally called Rach but he was fine and took it on the chin. Excellent meal and company.

That evening we sat in front of the TV, the usual load of Christmas night rubbish.  Will had asked for a DVD which Santa had kindly left, Boys Don't Cry, it's a true story. We sat and watched it, excellent film but it left me feeling the concern I have for Will living this life with prejudices. Basically the film is of a trans male (Brandon), living a new life, he gets in with a group of people who only know him as male. His female past catches up and he is raped and beaten, then shot. It was set in America 1999. I believe and hope that times have changed during the last 10 years and we are in the UK not rural America.
Perhaps not ideal Christmas night viewing.

My sister has invited us to her house this evening for a buffet, think I should just move in. Most of the family will be together again, up to now its been great, I've enjoyed myself and felt more relaxed with the whole situation.  It's good to join in with different conversation as lately I feel like a transexual bore! I need to get out more.