Anne M Reid likes to embrace change.
However, a major change without warning, alters her life's trajectory. Anne has had a varied career as an industrial designer, landscape architect, artist and analyst. She lives in Virginia with her family, including three creative kids with big imaginations, one rotund dog and a crazy cat.

Prologue

Part 1. Early Years

Meeting Paul

Fast-track relationship

Additions

Not a shotgun wedding

Blowing into the Windy City

Shrinking space

On the move again

Feeling out of it

Part 2. The Invisible Closet

Annus horribilis begins

Opening the door

Exploring the closet

Part 3. Paula Says

The realisation

Those events

Contacts

Slack

Depression & anxiety

Exercise

Coming out

Counselling

First appointment

Part 4. Aftermath

Reeling

I'm leaving on a jet plane …

Dressing dysphoria

Telling the kids

Life is full of loss

Opening the door to family

Philadelphia

Coping with Paula

Happy New Year…?

Telling the world-NOT

Neighbours

A rose by any other name

Southbound

Losing Hazel

Queensland-bound

To share, or not to share

Appearance

Loss of privilege

Catch-up

Revisionist history

Pride

My hus ... wife

Loss is more

Looking backwards and forwards

Words

Summer trips

You are amazing

I don't understand

Is the love there?

Kitty and other pussies

A snip in time

Fall, Thanksgiving and goodbye 2016

Paging 2017. Stat!

Should I stay or should I go?

Owning it

Part 5. Background

Dissecting dysphoria

Transitioning-what's that about?

Trans children

Where does the disconnect occur?

Telling people

Hyper-masculinity

Numbers

The Workplace

The only transgender in the village

Bathroom brouhaha

Trend and third-gender

Surgery history

Genetic markers and symbolism

Trans Land

Suicide & changing views

Religion

Spheres for fears

There is no yellow brick road

The trans partner shoe shop

Supporting your trans partner friend

Supporting the trans person

Trans view

Glossary

Gender, sexuality and language

Extras

For strength and comfort

Hazel's life as a tree

Endnotes
Acknowledgments
About the Author

"My husband wanted to be a girl!"

Imagine discovering the love of your life, the father of your three children, the person you devoted your life to and moved halfway across the world to be with, was living a deeply concealed lie.

Late one night, without warning, Anne's husband of ten years delivers the news: "I have gender dysphoria."

Her world shifts in an instant. How could she not know? How could she be so completely oblivious?

What does this even mean?

Anne begins examining, researching and recording events in an effort to retain some sanity. These events triggle a powerful and intimate memoir. With clarity, empathy and candour, She Said She Said provides the rarely heard voice of the partner of someone going through gender transition.

Humour, goodwill and a great deal of personal courage are required - and that was just to get through the first Mother's Day!