| Saying goodbye to Janet and Kate was difficult and emotional. We had gone through this whole drama together while grasping ahold of our dreams in having the SRS. It was indeed an extraordinary time that would forever link us together. We shed the ubiquitous tears as we said our goodbyes, wished each other good health and happiness, and promised to stay in touch. I hoped we could really keep that promise after they had each flown back to their homes. I managed to get in one more dilation before eating lunch for the last time. Margaret gave me a big hug, and thanked me for the flowers and the card. She was teary-eyed as I thanked her in person for the final time. The vision of her greeting me at the door when I first arrived is forever etched in my memory. Dr. M�nard checked on me one more time before I left, he thought everything looked well. I hugged and thanked him one last time before giving everyone else one final goodbye. It was tough to admit my time there had finally ended. I finally realized there was nothing left for me to do there except to leave with my heart tugging at my home away from home. I made my way to my car to make the final trip back home. It was a cool and sunny day, perfect for driving back to the states to meet my sisters. I drove out the driveway, across the narrow bridge, with the residence in my rear-view mirror. My heavy heart induced more tears as I found my way onto the highway. I listened to the Russell Watson CD one more time as I left Montr�al. I had accomplished everything I set out to do on this adventure, it didn�t make it any easier to leave knowing I got what I came for. This would be just the beginning of a monumental struggle for me to let go of the emotional ties to the place of my second birth. I finally focused my mind on the task at hand, which was getting to the border in one piece. I struggled to find a comfortable position while sitting on the rubber donut on my seat. I made it about halfway before I had to stop at a service area to relieve my bladder. It was a unique experience navigating the public restroom for the first time as a post-op, I was just glad I didn�t pee all over myself. Once I got back on the road I checked in with my sisters to see if they were on schedule. Everything was going according to plan and we would be meeting shortly. I finally made it to the border, entering with little interrogation from the border guards. How surreal it seemed when I thought about arriving in Canada with a penis, and then returning back the U.S.A. with a vagina! I didn�t have any problem locating my sisters at the prearranged exit. We warmly hugged, it was so nice to see their shining faces. We used the restrooms, gased up, and headed down the interstate. I was so glad to give up the drivers seat to my sister. She was going to drive us to her house, where I was going to stay through the weekend. It was a relief to put the seat back and stretch out. A few exits down the road we stopped to have some lunch at a Cracker Barrel. It was just the start of a love-hate relationship with my rubber donut, I needed it, but hated to carry it wherever I went. We caught up on all the things that had happened since we last saw each other. I was engrossed in hearing about their realizations once they returned home, it was apparent they had quite a remarkable experience amongst themselves in Montr�al. After a pleasant lunch we proceeded to make our way back home. It was strange not being in the comfortable surroundings of the residence anymore, but I was glad to be spending the time with my sister as we closed in upon her house. My journey had almost come full circle once we arrived there. Alas, my adventure of SRS in Montr�al was finally at its end. Healing, hope for a new life, and the many unforeseen challenges were my concerns now. I had traveled the long and winding road to get what I desparately wanted. I contemplated what my life would really be like now that the SRS had been performed and I had to find other things to look forward to. Oh, would I soon find out that my life as a post-op was not going to be dull one................... <<BACK<< >>NEXT>>....life as a post-op HOME |