Toni Coles:
CLASS OF 1974
Adams - Friendship High SchoolClass of 1974
Adams-friendship, WI
Control Data InstituteClass of 1977
Minneapolis, MN
Holy Cross SeminaryClass of 1974
La crosse, WI
Toni's Story
Life-
Isn't life interesting. I'm sure that I am not the only one of us who has discovered who she really is after leaving High School. Actually, I hope that you all have found out who your soul says you are if you weren't lucky enough to have that connection. If you knew everything about yourself in 1974 I'd be amazed, but I do realize that there are those who do. Even though we considered ourselves all grown up I know that is far from the truth, I'm not sure how any of us could have stagnated at the same place we were at that time. We still had growing to do & as a flower opens in Spring unfurling of the petals to our beings. May your journey be ever enlightening from here & I hope that peace & love has come into your soul. Hugs, Toni
Workplace
Since Solstice 2017 I’ve been retired from a computer geek at University of Wisconsin. I have been a few other places before this. Starting my career at GTE Automatic Electric as a Test Engineer. From there I worked for Loonam & Associates in Edina, MN as Field Service Technician. After there my next computer job was in Madison, WI. Working for Modern Business Machines again as Field Service Technician. I went to CUNA & Affiliates. I have been with UW for a few years now..
On the Beatles over Rolling Stones question in the You Make the Call... Those who knew me well would know that I my musical tastes were all over the spectrum. That hasn't changed I still can't completely identify a favorite kind of music. Today B ( I can't use her full name) & The Exciting Conclusion is the band that is in most heavy playing rotation but that is in part because I have had a crush on B.... for quite some time & finally got to meet her at her shows. She's such a wonderful beautiful Amazon my knees got weak when I gave her a kiss as my partner took our picture. I could easily turn into a groupie if I didn't have other obligations.
20 April 2008 Something wonderful happened. I couldn't talk about it then but I Irish Handfasted to my primary partner.
5 September 2009 was the second Irish Handfasting. A year and a day from then we will hopefully have plans at least (if not more) to completely tie the knot.
Sadly this September 2010 we will be having a Hand Parting. Being with Maison had some good & some negative. I hope that we can remain friends at least...Expand for more
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The beginning of August 2010 my partner Karen bought a house. We have been there since. It is interesting to be in a relationship with a cisgender female again. Wonderful in many ways & special in that we are a classic butch-femme relationship that we both recognize as such. I'm still "the wife" so to speak. It has been rewarding, validating, challenging & I wouldn't want to change any of that. I have been in this role since the days with Sandy really. It's good to get credit for it.
Wow, I haven't updated this in five years. It's 31 July 2015. I'm still living in the same house and with the same person although he prefers to be called Elliot now that she has discovered that he is genderqueer.
We have an open polyamorous relationship. I also have two other partners Danielle & Barry.
Barry is a secondary partner who I see only once a week or so.
Danielle had been a primary partner in a triad with Elliot and me but she is recently drifting away.
Well, anyhow. Life is alright these days. I fought depression and PTSD which was at its worst in 2012 but it wasn't until 2014 that I really started having it managed. I'm glad for good therapy and good drugs. I'm talking antidepressants but I also believe in medical use of cannabis which shouldn't surprise anyone.
I'm into Ecstatic Dance I'm one of the people who create mixes for and facilitate dance. If you're interested look up Ecstatic Dance Madison.
I'm on an 80% schedule working these days and still at the same job.
3 July 2022…..
I see again that I haven’t updated this for quite a while. Since the last update I retired in 2017. Elliot and I moved into Barry’s house now 3 years ago. We remain there but Barry died last 17 September.
If all goes well I will be having gender reaffirming surgery on 5 July. I’ve had this rescheduled so often now that I’ll believe it when I’m there. First the date got move up then in spite of being triple vaxed and had one booster I caught COVID days before then when next scheduled Dr. Gast caught it days before. Thanks Omicron variant. I’ve been more diligent and theoretical we are both “bulletproof” now.
My mental health is better now. I have some depression and anxiety but not like it was. The PTSD from domestic abuse as well as being harassed & attacked because I’m transgender still gets triggered sometimes.
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Reunions
Photos
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