As you can see, my niece is fully masked up. In an age where we finally got an "all clear" for being vaccinated, there are enough A--holes in our society that are putting the rest of us at risk by remaining unvaccinated. She can't wait for the day that she will no longer need the mask, and that she and her husband can visit this country together.
My niece usually puts her friends first, and tries to squeeze her aunt/uncle in as free time permits. Today was no different. So when I received her text telling me that we could meet after work, I jumped at the chance to do so. However, I would have to go home to change into something comfortable and feminine before seeing her in NYC. And this delayed my arrival at the Rubin museum, as I arrived there shortly after 7:30 pm. (The museum is usually open until 10, so even an 8:15 ticket time is quite reasonable.)
While waiting for our tickets to be valid for admission, I mentioned many things regarding what I plan to do with my assets when I pass away. (Hopefully not for a long time....) And she knows NOT to let my brother into my place until it has been purged of things I don't want him to know about (yet). She was surprised when I told her about a conversation I recently had with my ex, and she noted - why should I still bother with her, given the way she treated me last year? (She is wise beyond her years.) And I noted - in spite of everything, I'd sill like to be friends. Not the excessive intimacy (non physical) that my former cruise partner and I once had, but someone who I can chat with and occasionally have as an activity partner. However, I doubt that this will happen, as the ex-girlfriend tends to avoid social events I plan to attend.
My niece and I walked through the museum, and marveled that there is so much beautiful art in one place. However, the focus on this category of Asian art (Himalyayas and Tibet) is very different from Chinese and Japanese art. It seems to focus on the temporary nature of life and the impermanence of things in this world. Things that Westerners may see as sexual may be seen as a unity of all "forces" of nature to the cultures of these areas.
All too soon, our evening had to end. We walked back to Penn Station, where she had to rush off to a train. I picked up some grub there, as I knew that nothing would be open at Grand Central. And I was right....
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One thing I will comment on in a future post is a transgender person living in her authentic gender tends to live a relatively boring life once she isn't switching gender presentations on a daily basis. With the exception of putting on a wig, shaving my body hair off, and wearing chest prosthesis, most of my life is that of a typical female. No, I will never have the natural plumbing of a typical female. But that's OK. I am not looking to reproduce. Yet, it would be interesting if someone called me pretty....
