Through these pages you'll experience two very true and meaningful love stories. I've seen love from both sides now. That doesn't mean in winning or losing. In both of these encounters of the heart I don't consider either one as a loss. Carol taught me how to open up my heart and receive love unconditionally. I loved her with my total being. Charlotte proves to me every day that she loves me unconditionally. Both of these incredible women had and have my heart in nothing less than total commitment. You will also experience a victory over a life long and very personal issue. Gender disorders are very serious in nature; for they are fooling with Mother Nature. We exist with invisible birth defects that are very visible to us. Some of us don't make it to the victory party of our body's emergence. Some of us try to cut out the parts that shouldn't be there. Many die, or try to escape with drugs or alcohol. I've told the story with my usual sense of humor, honesty and passion for life. These are all very important traits that have helped me survive during my journey. Now I'm looking to the future with a new body and name, more fi tting to my heart, soul and spirit. Some people may not agree with what I have done. I challenge them to read "Refl ections" with an open heart and mind, imagining themselves in my shoes walking down the same path.