Thinking Too Much

I mean we don't exactly *have* an independence day?

Independence day for most countries means independence from the British, and the British cut us loose voluntarily- Canada didn't rebel, it was granted a large measure of independence by the crown in 1867, which slowly evolved into full legal autonomy in a process that wasn't totally finalized until 1982.

We still actually kinda-sorta recognize the authority of the British monarchy, and keep a photo of whatever ruling royal is in charge in courthouses and public schools. Sing 'God save the king' on some occasions, too- though they don't really have much more than a symbolic influence on our parliament.

That said, "Canada Day" is our national holiday and it's three days before America's independence day on July 1st.

"It's nice to meet you all," she murmured and her violet orbs shone while she looked at them. "My name is Carmellia Sofia Azura McElroy. And I am your sister."

"But you are too beautiful to be our sister" said Justin looking at her with astonishment.

"I don't know how this could happen" said Griffin who was also astonished.

"Your eyes are as purple as my hair" said Travis (he was still dyeying his hair purple)

"It's true boys" said Clint. "Your mother and I had another child but she was lost when she was one year old. We never told you about her because we didn't want you to be sad that she was lost. But now after many years she has grown up into a beautiful young woman, and you can hear how amazing her voice is. Plus, she is so funny and hilarious. If we put her on the podcast everyone will want to listen."

"I don't want another person on the podcast" said Justin. But then Carmellia said "You mean you don't want another horse in the stable" and it was so funny that everyone busted out laughing hard.

"Okay it's true you are funny and your voice is so rich and good to listen to" said Griffin. "We will change the name of the podcast and make it so that you are on with us every week. It will be called My brother my bRother my SISTER and me!"

And then there's a bit right at the end of the story as the wife and the husband are walking out of court:

Jill turned abruptly. "What is your name? Your real name."

The man's gray eyes flickered. He smiled a little, kind, gentle smile. "I'm afraid you would not be able to pronounce it. The sounds cannot be formed..."

Jill was silent as they walked along, deep in thought. The city lights were coming on all around them. Bright yellow spots in the gloom. "What are you thinking?" the man asked.

"I was thinking perhaps I will still call you Lester," Jill said. "If you don't mind."

"I don't mind," the man said. He put his arm around her, drawing her close to him. He gazed down tenderly as they walked through the thickening darkness, between the yellow candles of light that marked the way. "Anything you wish. Whatever will make you happy."

And I. God. There's something there. A soupcon of monsterfuckery. To tell your partner in a moment of intimacy that yes, you're something so inhuman that the lips you're stealing can't speak your actual name. You're a parasite that not only had the ability to burrow under this man's skin and take over his life, but you were so desperate to escape a dead, dry, blasted planet that you did.

The answer is: the uterus isn't what causes your period, it is effected by your period. What causes your period and what causes trans women's periods is the same thing: the endocrine system.

HRT changes the sex of your endocrine system. Feminizing HRT makes it a female endocrine system, giving us a 28-day hormone cycle just like cis women. At the end of that cycle, the hypothalamus floods the body with prostaglandins. Those are what cause all but one of the period symptoms, because they make muscles inflame and contract. They are what make the uterus shed its lining, they are what cause intestinal cramps, they are what cause body aches, they are what cause headaches and migraines. The only period symptom not causes by the release of prostaglandins throughout the body is depression, and that is caused by your endocrine system simply not processing as much estrogen and from simply feeling like shit.

So, the only symptoms trans women don't get every 28 days is menstrual cramps, because yes we do not menstruate since we don't have uteruses. But migraines, depression, body aches, intestinal cramps, and the infamous "period shits" don't exactly add up to us having any better of a time. Except we have to pretend that we're fine and nothing is different because no one believes that we get periods, not even cis women.

Assuming the odd possibility that someone will actually see this, please be introduced to jabuticaba. I rest my case