A bit of explanation first? I've re-published two previous but now re-edited versions of Lesley and the Lion and the retitled A Brief Journey to Badger Wood. This coincides with my recent new addition to my own take on Narnian myth, Daughter of Eve. Secondly. the stories themselves have personal meaning beyond my fascination with Lewis and Narnia.

Just shortly after I wrote Lesley and the Lion, I managed to get enough courage to give it to Mrs. D to read. Between that decision and her own delight with the Chronicles of Narnia series, Mrs. D continued her own journey in seeking to understand what transgender meant to me and how much of who I am. That in turn, coupled with her getting to know several folks here by way of learning THEIR love for me, convinced her in no small way to accept this part of me

In one of our last conversations, she asked if her husband was going away. No, I replied. In thirty-four years together she deserved patience since I was as honest as I could be. My hope was to spend more time showing her how much i loved her by honoring her concerns even as I might venture out of the wardrobe a wee bit more.. In posting these stories again, I hope that as much as they honor C.S. Lewis, that they honor her memory. She was and likely will remain the kindest, most loving person I will ever be blessed to know. You folks must take credit for being number two on that list.

On the 26th of this month, it will be a year that she was taken from us. In the meantime, it has been a very long year of sadness and challenges for my son and my own family and especially my in-laws. But along the way I gained a daughter-in-law who simply blesses my heart.

I have no time-table, but sometime before the end of the year I hope I have the freedom to use my writing to introduce my son and new daughter to Andrea. How much further this daughter of Eve peeks out of the closet if at all remains to be seen.

For those I never told, her name was Anne Thérèse after Thérèse the Little Flower. Her siblings had a hard time with her middle name. so everyone knew her as Tracey.

I want to thank every one of you for your kindness and encouragement; especially in light of my loss but also in that love you've shown me for over ten years. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.