In law school I had 3 best friends. And one of them was a very masculine woman who went by the nickname "Bit" because her real name was very feminine.
Our group of four was very, very close, and finally in our 3rd year Bit started dropping little hints that she might want to become a man.
Lo' and behold, after graduating, taking and passing the Bar Exam, Bit announces to us that "she" is going to begin the legal process of becoming a man.
That was about 2-3 years ago. Now, I have a great friend named Malcolm, whom is one of the finest attorneys I know, contstantly receiving promotion after promotion, and generally just making our profession proud.
Being a gay man, I can understand a little of what it's like to live life outside of the supposed "norm" or mainstream, but honestly I can never fully understand what my friend went through, or goes through on a day-to-day basis. All I could do is love and support him as best as I knew/know how and listen to him when he needs an ear to bend.
It takes time. It takes patience and understanding. It takes a willingness of everyone involved to open up their minds and embrace the unknown.
Though my friend's life is not perfect (and whose life if perfect anyway?), to me he seems so much happier being able to present himself to the world as he's always felt he should've been. He is now a great and well-respected man. We don't really talk in detail about his intimate, sexual life . . . and I do know that area is the most difficult for him, but then again, sex and intimacy can be a rocky-road for the most "normal" of people.
I wish you the best of luck. I hope you surround yourself with loving and accepting people, who will support you and look upon this event as the opportunity to get to meet the real you.
My friend is still the same person I've known for 6 years. He's still intelligent, hard-working, dedicated, funny and above-all, manly. It's just that now he seems more comfortable in his own skin.
A smooth road to you my friend. I wish only the best for you. And don't forget--above all--love yourself, the rest will follow.
