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This is a lot for one person to digest in one day. For her, it was
almost more than she could bear. By the time we made it to the Tri-Ess
meeting in Chicago she was just trying to hang in there. I had asked her
about going to the PALS meeting from the onset (PALS is the spouse support
group sponsered by the Chicago Tri-Ess Chapter) , but she was not sure,
assuming it was just a "go with the flow" sort of group of gals
I guess. However, while sitting at the table and listening to some of
the sisters talking (the contents of which are fodder for another article),
she decided to go to that meeting once Amanda announced it was starting.
I brought her over to Amanda and asked her to bring her to the meeting,
as I knew how she was feeling seeing me dressed all day. Two other wives
we had had dinner with decided to join her for support, and for that I
am thankful as well.
When she returned from PALS, she was smiling. That was a good sign
for me! She came back into the meeting room and sat next to me with a
look in her eyes that was not there before. After the PALS group, she
was talking to various sisters at the table, which was great to see as
well. In talking to her afterwards, I learned she got a lot out of the
PALS group. Although we did not share the details, I believe that PALS
meeting, plus the perfect timing of the PALS panel discussion that night
went a long way in her starting to understand what I have been telling
her for years. She even put her head on my shoulder, something I was completely
surprised to see happen while en femme.
If it were not for the PALS group, I would never had brought my wife
to the meeting; and had the PALS group not been one of help and encouragement
for the spouses/SO'S, she would not have been as encouraged that she is
not alone. I hope that the PALS group continues for a long time. The facilitator
was a very important part of this meeting, I am sure, as there were more
than one first time spouse there with lots of questions and comments.
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