Rachael Berger - Miss February
Rachael Berger has had a unique journey of self-discovery, crossdressing, and recovery. Rachael has a strong and confident spirit due to the challenges she has faced with navigating relationships while embracing her identity as a crossdresser and the impact of her marriages on her journey. Rachael enjoys her transformation into her true self, the exploration of her sexuality, and the importance of acceptance from her family. Rachael emphasizes the significance of recovery and giving back to the community, inspiring others to embrace their true selves.
How It All Began
Most of my early childhood was spent on trains and planes as we travelled and lived all over the world because of my father's employment, while my mother was the devoted "stay at home" mother thought it all. By the time we arrived Calgary when I was ten years old, we had lived in North Dakota, Colorado, North Africa. and Denmark. All that time spent on airplanes had created a love of flying and aviation in my heart and mind that continued an expanded into my adult life. Once I got to Canada, I found that I also loved ice hockey; I learned how to play it there and played hockey competitively for over 40 years. It was also in Calgary that I discovered that I was different than the other boys when I tried on my mother's bra and panties, and immediately fell in love with the sensation of euphoria it created within me, and knew it would not go away. When Marilyn Monroe died in August of 1962, I was devastated because I adored her and wanted to grow up to be just like her. I somehow tied the bra and panties thing together with it when I had them on. By the time I graduated high school and left for college on a hockey scholarship, I was playing football as well. That became my first mental conflict, because boys that played hockey and football did not want to grow up to be Marilyn Monroe and wear women's clothes
Alcohol Gave Me Wings To Fly, Then It Took Away The Sky
When I got to college, I continued to play hockey and football, and began pursuing an aviation career path that included flying small and big airplanes for over 50 years, with a three year stint as an air traffic controller in Reno thrown in the middle after one of my airlines went out of business. It was in college that I learned that alcohol made me feel different as well, but different that the bra and panties made me feel. It was while I was in Reno that being the macho hockey player and pilot/controller started to conflict with feelings of wanting to cross-dress after meeting the first one I ever knew there, and I then started to hang out with the strippers, hookers, and crossdressers that frequented the places I liked to go while living there. My aviation career eventually led me to a major airline, where my alcohol fueled confusion, guilt and shame over how I felt about myself and perceived "double life" brought me to a point where I was not safe to fly anymore, and needed to come to terms with both my drinking, and sexual identity before I arrived at "the bitter end" in a lot of pain and suffering. I was lucky to have not harmed anyone with my drinking and flying. And that airline gave me the help and support I needed to come to terms with who I had been, and how to strive to live the best life I could going forward. They could have and probably should have fired me, but instead let me retire with honor and dignity after 40 years of service last summer. As my career was winding down, I started my transition to Rachael during Covid when my airplane got temporarily parked for several months, and I had a lot of time for self reflection, self evaluation, and personal growth that continues today
What It Is Like Now
Today, I spend a lot of time attending AA meetings to express my gratitude and love for my over 27 years of sobriety, and connect with all the people who have helped me and been on the sobriety journey with me. By attending many AA meetings as Rachael, I am able to meet and help mentor many women who struggle with similar addiction and sexual identity issues as I did. There are quite a few trans women that I run across in AA looking for help and guidance. I also like to mentor the "new girls" coming over to our way of life, and so you may see me as a Big Sis during one of the various Las Vegas conventions I attend every year, You will also see me dressed up in "Denver Broncos paraphernalia" in quite a few of my posts, especially if it is a Sunday afternoon during the NFL season. My women's home group meets at 5:45pm on Sunday afternoon, so I can root for my team and still make the meeting unless it is Sunday Night Football. The other reason for all my Broncos posts is that I have had a long-standing relationship with the Broncos/NFL as a fan, season ticket holder, and employee going back over 24 years. I love my Broncos, and am not afraid to talk smack about my team if I think you can handle it, but also criticize my team when appropriate if they deserve it. It's all in fun after all. After over 24 seasons, I am a pretty knowledgeable when it comes to football and every fan base in the NFL, and have worked at, or been in the stadium for at least one game against every team in the NFL when they played the Broncos. In some cases, I have been in the stands for multiple games against many teams. Some fan groups are passionate, friendly, and enthusiastic, and you could root for their team if if they beat your team in playoffs. However, just like in life today, some other fan groups are not like that, and bring out the worst in Broncos fans when they come to town. I ran across a few of both in this years playoffs. And finally, when are the good country concerts going to start cranking up?
Living My Best Girl Life
As I go forward in this journey. I am proud to be a trans woman and strive to be the best example a woman I can be every time I step out the front door. There is nowhere that I am afraid to go as Rachael, including the airplane and TSA Precheck. I try to be the best example of the LGBTQ community that I can, and the only one many people will ever see. I am not an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ community, but do attend local functions in support of the community whenever possible. I would rather prefer to live "My Best Girl Life" and lead by example as to what a responsible sober woman of grace and dignity should be. Don't be afraid to step out of the closet; follow me on this journey of "Living My Best Girl Life" each and every day. I am truly grateful to doing that going forward as a sober woman in AA.
