A milestone Christmas

This Christmas is especially special to me, my first as Joanne (Auntie Jo), and it was everything that I could hope for under the circumstances.

I don't think I can ever really recall a past Christmas that ever brought me to happy tears before, but the moment I opened the card you see here, this morning, the waterworks started. These are small things, but they are enormously powerful ones, and this card symbolizes a great deal in that respect.

I look back on 2020 and, when I entered this year, I had no inkling that I would be where I am now. Seeing a therapist, starting HRT, and coming out to family and work were not even something I was thinking about. Yet, here I am.

I have been so incredibly fortunate in the love and care my family and my work has surrounded me with. Not all of our journeys are like that, far too many are quite the opposite, but we will continue to forge ahead and pave the way for those that follow us. Some day, the joy and wonder I have been fortunate to feel in this journey will be commonplace for other trans people. Until then, my goal is to do as much as I can in my corner of the world to make it true.

So, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone! It's been a very strange year, but I have hope for the future and I look forward to the new year.