Creating a Dream
Bed & Breakfast
We turn off the road onto a tree lined drive and view for the first time our ‘retreat’. The building is a large open and inviting multistoried structure that says ‘WELCOME’. With lush landscaping surrounding the drive making us feel as if we are worth a million dollars we turn into the circle drive and cruise toward the front doors.
The double doors are opened by a gentleman with a smile as
big as
From a back room several women appear and take up our
luggage and begin to escort us up the winding staircase where I hesitate and
rub my hand on the polished banister as I look forward into another room, a
ballroom with crystal chandeliers and velvet cushioned chairs. We stop at a
room that has a brass plate announcing the room to be “
My room is amazing. At first glance I note that there is no
Television. There is no radio, only a CD player with a collection of soft
instrumentals in the cabinet next to it. The queen size bed is a four poster
with lace trim and a soft eyelet bedspread in a soft ecru. I’m instructed to change from my traveling
clothes and to place my street clothing by the door and a house attendant will
have them cleaned for my departure. As
my escort is unpacking my bags and placing them in the French Provincial triple mirror dresser I look out the window. My
room is at the back of the mansion and the view is awe inspiring to say the least. There is an outdoor amphitheater to the upper
left of the open field that is visible from my window. There are paths within the gardens that from
this height look like gardens planned for the palaces of
With nervous fingers I undress and gather my things for the shower. The bath is designed to accommodate me! The dressing table is large enough to hold all my perfumes and items of make-up with ample room in the pantry next to it to store all my bags. There is a garden tub as well as a well lit glass shower stall. I reach into the shower and adjust the water temperature to just above a comfortable warm. I want my skin to tingle with this refreshing shower experience. Razor in hand I enter the shower stall and begin to wash the travel from my body with a warm, soapy sponge that lathers and lathers in the soft water coming from the pulsating shower head. With luxuriously slow strokes I shave and once again lather my body readying it for the final rinse before I step out and begin this wonderful adventure that I have so longingly anticipated.
I select a dress of silk. Light blue to match the sky
surrounding this wonderful mansion. First I lay out the dress upon the bed
placing matching low heeled shoes on the soft carpets where my toes have been
digging into the piles. I didn’t realize just how excited I was to begin this
particular adventure. Choosing a suntan pair of silk stockings I took my time
in pulling them up and ensuring that there were no wrinkles and that the lines
were straight before securing them about my waist. Next I selected a purple
I open the Victorian French styled Amour to view the variety of attire I have brought for the weekend. It seems the attendant not only took away my traveling clothes, but also steamed my dresses and pant suit for me. I look about and see that there is a mini bar refrigerator in the corner. It is stocked as I suspected, with water, juices and flavored waters.
I can hear movement in the hall outside my door. Now it is time for me to make my way downstairs where I’ll meet with the other girls and get a tour of this beautiful place I am to call home for a few days, a few hours away from life as I know it and from the traffic, from the stress of the office, from the ringing phones.
As I reach the bottom of the stairs I am met by the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. He graciously takes my hand and leads me to the reception table where he picks up a corsage with a small name placard attached. He carefully pins it to my dress and stands back to admire his handiwork while explaining that dinner will be within the hour and the tour will start in mere minutes. I breathily tell him thanks and wonder if he is also the masseuse! A girl can dream, can’t she?
Just as our tour guide enters the foyer to greet us I look around at the other guests. There are 7 women and 3 men. The women are attired as if we are on a southern plantation anticipating a formal dinner and the gentlemen match us. The men are dressed in Tuxedos with bow ties and the women are in chipper spring and summer colored dresses designed to take your breath away. This is the first Friday evening I’ve been away from home in quite some time and I truly feel at home and welcome among this group of beautiful people.
Our guide introduces herself and explains that this mansion is used for three separate and distinct purposes.
First is the reason for our being together. Personal, very specific weekends and/or weeks are set aside for personal journeys of discovery and relaxation. There are planned social activities and dining as a group. There are also planned educational seminars and opportunities to share with one another in open discussions. In addition to the planned activities there is ample time for shopping and grooming as provided by the specific vendors participating in the ‘event’.
Second is that the mansion is used for a Bed and Breakfast. The rooms individually named and decorated but each has its own bath, dressing area, living/bed room. These rooms are available to be viewed and booked from the website or at the front reception desk. The exceptionally busy times of the year are spring when the new flowers are blooming and the surrounding mountains and valleys are drenched in the colors only an artist or GOD could concoct. Fall colors also attract an unusual number of guests as the trees bask in the colors of the setting sun and glow with the pigments of red, orange, green and brown. Winter and Summer is a time when the Floridians venture here to enjoy the temperate climate.
Thirdly the mansion is used for spiritual retreats. Church groups come and participate in planned retreats according to their faiths. Terezon meditative retreats are also held here where teachings and seminars are conducted on meditation techniques. The structure of the retreats is such that an atmosphere and environment for camaraderie and individual growth is created to promote self enrichment.
We are led into the grand ballroom where it is explained that our Saturday evening meal will be served here followed by the entertainment and then by a dance. Many from the local community are invited to participate and will join us for the dance. From here we are taken into a smaller dining room that has a table with seating for 20. Here is where we will partake of breakfast. Lunch will be ala carte as there will be many activities for us to participate in during this time frame.
We are not shown the kitchen but rather walked into a large formal gathering room. This room, it is explained to us, is used for after hours gathering to view the big screen TV or to socialize among ourselves. There are luxurious couches and easy chairs scattered about the room as well as several tables surrounded by chairs for conversation or game playing. At one end is a large screen TV/DVD player and at the other is a large fireplace surrounded by windows showing the majesty and beauty of the gardens out back of the mansion.
We pass through French Doors to the brick patio and gardens beyond. Breath taking. That is how I describe the view as I catch my breath and step into another place in time and space. The gardens make me feel instantly at peace and I feel like a princess strolling among the flowers and bushes. I can almost hear my Prince Valiant riding his horse to sweep me off my feet and take me to yon castle! I become aware of the others as our guide explains that during good weather the amphitheater is used for movies at night or for classes during the retreats. On rare occasions we have hosted an outdoor play by local actors and supported local bands for special occasion dances. We turn toward the barn where we are told 30 horses used to be stalled. Now the area has been renovated to serve not only as a garage, but as a barracks and cafeteria for spiritual retreats and an occasional local band performance.
This ends our tour as we hear the dinner bell ring. My sense of adventure swells as I continue on my journey of discovery. In the lushly appointed main dining room my companions and I are seated by the most attentive, attractive and kind gentlemen I have ever met. These gentlemen seem determined to ensure our stay is a memorable one, and they are succeeding! Seated we are each poured a vintage white wine in the crystal goblet to the right of the European china plate and silver setting. Our crystal water glasses have condensation on them from the fresh, cool water previously poured. I wonder if there is a spring on the property. Our salad is baby butter lettuce with mandarin orange slices, fresh pecans and a raspberry vinaigrette served upon a chilled china salad plate. The main entrée is baked cod with lemon slices surrounded by fresh asparagus and twigs of parsley picked fresh from the gardens outside the mansion. Sorbet is served and I for one declined the fresh chocolate pecan pie alamode served for dessert.
The dinner conversation was subdued as we enjoyed the elegant surroundings and attention being doted upon us by our host. I have never felt like such a beautiful flower of a woman before. I positively glowed, as did everyone else at the table.
We departed the dining area for the gathering room. Comfortably seated for a conversation that included formal and informal introductions and a general discussion of where we are on our journeys and what we hope to gain from this ‘fantasy escape’ weekend. After an hour or so of enlightened discussion we are on our own until the morning. We bid our host goodnight as she leaves us to get to know one another or watch the late evening news and other programming on the large screen television.
It was with a sense of excitement and dread that I returned to my room. This perfect day was at an end and time for me to ‘pumpkin’ by removing my dress, hanging it lovingly in the armoire, placing my shoes beneath it. As I go to the dressing area to begin removing my jewelry and makeup I can’t help but reflect on the beauty of my surroundings, new friends and the promise of the morrow. After I have showered and slipped into my satin nightgown I turn to the bed that has been turned down in anticipation of my nights slumber. With only a thought I find myself in a deep, deep sleep.
The next morning I am awakened by the gentle sounds of music coming from the Bose Wave alarm clock/CD/Radio. What a wonderful way to begin the day. After making a luxurious stretch I crawl from beneath the coverlet to place my feet on the piles of an exquisite Persian Rug. Stepping tenderly across the floor I begin to dress for another day of life and adventure. Donning a Dior pant suit and low comfortable heels I make my way to the dining room where breakfast is to be served.
After a breakfast of Belgian Waffles and freshly squeezed juice we begin a day of education and discussion. First on the schedule are a series of talks by speakers brought in to facilitate several seminars that each of us has expressed an interest in. I understand that it is possible to schedule a long weekend visit with no seminars and in fact the entire period is to be spent ‘experiencing’ life as we wish it to be in these wonderful surroundings.
By late morning there are vendors set up to accommodate our every desire. Hair dressers, nail technicians, make-up specialists, speech therapists, authors, representatives from local clothing shops and of course shoes and hand bags.
A light lunch consisting of Caesar Salad with blackened fish or chicken and beverage of our choice precedes the afternoon activities. The weather is gorgeous so we go to the amphitheater to learn of the local community and hear speakers on ‘deportment’ ‘speech’ ‘attitude’ ‘surgery’ and ‘legalities’. After which I walk among the gardens and into the woods enjoying the solitude and peacefulness of the grounds. The coy in the pond appear majestic as they slowly swim among the tiled confines of the viewing pond. I take the time to ponder all that I’ve garnished from today’s activities and jot notes to myself concerning things I want to do when I return to the ‘real world’. As early evening approaches I begin to get anxious about the dinner, the dance and the nightly entertainment. Butterflies seem to have carried away my stomach and heart as my own excitement gathers in intensity. I begin to work my way back to the Mansion where the others are already working on their preparations for the evening.
I have set aside a green silk dress with a plunging neckline for the evening. The diamond clustered broach is perfect above my left breast. I have a pair of ivory heels and matching handbag to complete the ensemble. I think pearls will be the perfect accent for the rich green dress. The earrings are comprised of three dropping pearls from a gold stud with a European screw clasp. The bracelet and necklace is a triple strand of large pearls with a gold clasp that glistens in the light. There is a small diamond hair piece to top off the outfit.
A long soothing bubble bath later sees me coating my body with Obsession body lotion, sprinkling on powder and using just a small squirt of Obsession perfume to prepare my body for the evenings repast. I pull on my pantyhose, adjust my bra and begin the process of putting on my make-up. I have this thought of wonderment. Just thinking of what a transformation it is to properly apply my make-up and become the woman from my dreams. After my make-up is complete and I’m satisfied that Nicole Kidman could look no better, I refresh my nails and sit in one of the cushioned arm chairs gazing out into the gardens while my nails dry to a hard, glossy finish. Once I have donned my dress and fashioned my hair I am ready to greet the world and meet some of the local guys and gals that are here for the dinner and/or dance.
It seems that I have a few moments before the dinner bell is rung for us all and I choose to stroll in the garden for a few moments of quiet solitude. The flowers and bushes are beautiful. The arrangements are just perfect and the entire effect is that this looks like the gardens from a European Schloss or palace or something from the show ‘The Rich and Famous’! I meet one of the girls that work here; she is collecting fresh flowers for the center pieces on the dinner table. I join her and hold some of the bouquets whilst she continues to selectively choose the flowers and arrange them. The garden doesn’t even appear to diminish in size nor beauty as she chooses cuts and arranges the next bouquet.
We talk as she works. I ask how she likes working in this beautiful place and she tells me that it was her dream come true. All the men and women working here, she explains, were selected based on their individual need and desire to participate in a project that is designed to make a social contribution. I asked her what social contribution was being made and she smiled really big before answering. “Well, you are here and able to enjoy a fantasy weekend of education, lectures, social interaction and special attention. I am able to be here during my transitional period and I have the opportunity to continue to earn money while learning a new career. I’ve learned computer skills, hospitality skills, administrative skills and people skills that I would never have had the opportunity for otherwise. You see as most transgendered people go through ‘transition’ and attempt to live up to the Harry Benjamin standards of care, they lose the support network that is so very important. The only people employed here are transgendered. The support network available here is designed to keep the level of suicides down by providing a model that can be used in other parts of the world too. We have all the resources from the city plus we have each other and can share in our experiences and assist each other as needed. Well I must get these flower arrangements to the dining room before the dinner bell rings.”
I thought about what she had said as I continued my stroll through the garden. I begin to notice that there are selected areas within the garden designed for groups. It appears that during some of the meditation and spiritual retreats these areas are used to gather small groups and perform certain exercises designed to provoke thought and inner knowledge. As I begin to walk toward the barn the dinner bell rings.
The dinner table is full, but a placard has saved me a position at the table next to another woman approximately my age and a striking young man on the other side. Across from me is one of the other guests and we both smile at each other as I take my seat. The woman next to me is from the city. She tells me that these events are held quarterly and that the local residents place their reservations a year in advance for the opportunity to be here and participate. She states that the chefs here are all in training for five star restaurants and the meals are to die for! Also, if you dine here prior to the dance you are guaranteed a parking spot close to the mansion.
Just as the sun is setting in a wondrous array of color and splendor a tall woman enters from the kitchen and states “Salade de Cresson et Endives” and stands aside as our salads are brought to the table. Tender watercress mixed with cucumber slices and Belgian endive. Topped with a whisked combination of lemon juice, mustard, salt and pepper and walnut oil. Delicious! Conversation has stopped and we are sipping from the crystal water glasses when our host appears with the wine. A white merlot. Tinged a blush hue, the wine has a surprising taste that is not exactly a white nor red and nothing like a Zinfandel blush wine. Again the tall woman enters the dining area and announces “Escalopes de Veau aux Fines Herbes”. Each plate has upon it thin scaloppini of veal covered with herbs sautéed in butter, parsley, tarragon and chives. Simply elegant is the term that comes to mind and in fact it seems that the presentation of the savory Italianate ratatouille baked with mozzarella cheese draws more attention from the guests. Just as our wine and water glasses are refreshed the tall and distinguished woman whom I’ve come to admire for what she heralds in announces “Mélange des Fruits” and again steps aside as chilled bowls are placed in front of us. I gingerly use my dessert fork to spear a fresh strawberry coated with confectioners’ sugar. As I place this delicacy into my mouth my mind reels with the tastes of Grand Marnier, kirshwasser, cognac, framboise and orange juice. It is truly divine! As I soak in the flavors of the dish I look longingly at the pears, apples and oranges in the bowl with anticipation. This is a night I will not soon forget.
In another day and age this is the time when the men would go to the den where cigars would be brought out for all and discussions of finance, world events and other mundane subjects would be discussed. The women would go to the sitting room where they would discuss the recipes of the chef, children and other items of fashion and interest. But alas, this is the 21st century and we all go to the side veranda to view the sky, brilliantly lit by a full moon but with enough darkness to look with awe upon the multitude of stars seen sparkling in the sky.
Small groups began talking in low voices as we linger upon the veranda and soak in the serene atmosphere. The woman that had sat next to me nudges me. “I told you the meals here were divine, didn’t I?” I could only think of how fortunate she was to live close enough to enjoy this every three months if she chose to do so. I asked if the dining room was open year round to serve as a restaurant. She replied that unfortunately the limited capacity of the facility (table for 20) didn’t allow the establishment to serve as a fine dining restaurant but only as a Bed and Breakfast. Also, she stated, the distance to the city precluded a profitable restaurant from being established. We began to talk of her times here in the mansion. She had attended several retreats over the years and had even come here for the type of special event I was participating in. Her fondest memory is of the bonds she made with others present during that event and how many of them still kept in contact via email. It seems that the band is beginning to warm up and that draws us into the ballroom for yet another adventurous evening. My new companion takes me by the elbow and escorts me into the lights of the crystal chandeliers sparkling from the high ceilings of the ballroom.
There are several small tables with chairs scattered about the edges of the room. The lights are dimmed sufficiently to allow us privacy in every corner, but illumination enough to experience the warmth and coziness of the mansions grand ballroom. My imagination takes me away as I dream of days gone by and the gentlemen and ladies that have preceded me. Dancing, swaying across the polished hardwood floors. Sweeping dreamily in the arms of their dance partner as the waltz intensifies. The sound of shoes upon the floor making a tune of their own as they move with the rhythm of the music. I can almost hear their heartbeats drumming out their tune. I’m startled out of my revelry by a young man asking me to dance. I allow him to gather me into his arms as we move with the rhythm of the music. Several hours later, exhausted and exhilarated I make my way up the winding stairs. Giddy not on the wine consumed, but on the experience. Reflective of this day of wonderment, I open my journal and make a few notes. A day so wonderful in so many ways that it will take me a month to disseminate all that I have actually learned and experienced. I quickly shower to remove the perspiration of the dance floor off of me and with a quick application of soothing bath powder I slip into my nightgown and snuggle under the sheets of the open and inviting bed. With my head in the clouds it only takes me a minute to fall into a deep slumber luxuriously ensconced in the warm, comfortable bed. Life is good. No, Life is Grand!
Upon arising on this, my final day here I put on a sun dress and make my way down to breakfast. This is a bed and breakfast and breakfast seems to be a specialty that I don’t want to miss. As I enter the dining room I see that I’m not the only one anticipating breakfast this morning. Almost all the guests are here, waiting not too patiently it seems for the chef to present the menu. Omelette Paysanne states the chef as our plates are being set at the table. A wonderful presentation. The eggs cooked in butter can’t be good for my figure but I’m not thinking about that this morning. Within the eggs are encased thinly sliced potatoes cooked in peanut oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper. Add to this thinly sliced onions, then diced ham and butter allowed to cook thoroughly and you have the basic ingredients. The eggs have been whisked with finely chopped parsley, tarragon and chives. This combination makes for the most scrumptious flat potato and ham omelet I’ve ever tasted. Freshly ground and brewed coffee and freshly squeezed juice complement the meal. We linger at the table long after the dishes have been cleared and share our reflections and feelings of this visit. “Fantasies in Lace” was the original thought that came to my mind. I can’t imagine ever forgetting this weekend. Especially the conversation in the garden about the social contribution the mansion makes to the community.
I think I’ll sign up for a meditation retreat weekend and return to this wonderfully secluded area for enlightenment, joy and peace. The grounds themselves will lend themselves to the requirements of a spiritually enlightening retreat. Areas are separated within the gardens, barn and woods that allow for individual instruction and meditation. It is obvious that much thought and planning was put into this arrangement.
(To be continued)
The basic concept of this business plan is a Bed &
Breakfast located in a somewhat isolated locale, mountainous or with many trees
surrounding the property. The
The B&B serves as a spiritual retreat, an upscale Bed and Breakfast as well as a safe place for the Transgender Community to gather and experience their ‘coming of age’. All employees of the ‘center’ are transgendered and cycle through during their transition period. Graduates of this program re-enter society as well adjusted men and women with confidence in their own abilities as well as with transferable skills and experiences that can lend them to a fulfilling life.
The other consideration for this enterprise is the ‘
It is stated that the Transgender Community is the most educated, talented, skilled …. under paid, under utilized group of people in our society today. I don’t think it is the appearance of a person that adds value to a business but rather the heart, the soul, the intention of the individual to live and love as another human being. A spiritual being having a human experience, if you will. There is a tremendous value within each of us that wants to contribute to the larger whole. As a college instructor, as a retired military officer, as a parent, as a person I want to contribute to another human being the things that will help them to realize their worth, their value. I want to be able to assist in making the transition from one life to another one of pride, success and joy. In that vein I have created this dream location. Within my lifetime I will see it brought to fruition.
I thank you for indulging me to show you the vision that I have had for these many years.