MY STORY

I'm told when you turn 60, you need to start shopping for a biographer. So, while I'm tracking down the elusive genius who will weave a compelling tale out of my rather unorthodox life, the following timeline will have to suffice. These are, quite simply, the facts. With a dash of Dale Carlson humor.

1952
Born to Paul Carlson (a WWII Purple Heart veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps)
and Jeanne Carlson (homemaker) in Sacramento, CA.
The Purple Heart became even more appropriate when my parents saw that their
first-born child was a teeny tiny albino baby!


1953
Moved to Dugway, UT (in the Skull Valley Desert southwest of Salt Lake City)
where my father became a federal meteorologist at the army base.
He was an expert at reading weather systems but he didn't have a clue
about the storm brewing in his own house!


1965-71
At my mother's suggestion, I started playing the saxophone (age 12)
in the school band after attempts at the
trumpet and trombone were unanimously vetoed.
Good thing, huh?


1970-71
Played with friends in a rock band and we won the school talent show
playing Mustang Sally (our school mascot was the mustang).
A star is born!


1971
Started college at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City (age 18).
A giant step in leaving home. A frightening 1-1/2 hours away.
Even scarier, the mecca for all things Mormon!


1973
At age 21, started playing music professionally (as in, I actually got paid)!
Also took up the flute and harmonica.
I was a one-man albino band in a Mormon stronghold!


1977-92
My athletic juices started flowing (age 25) and I began swimming, running and
cycling competitively over the next 15 years -- on a Master's team, in various
road races and triathlons. Had a few personal bests and went from
a whiter shade of pale to chlorine green from all the pool time!
Even served as lifeguard at the (indoor) YMCA pool so I could work out for free!
This also saved me from the searing Utah summer sun (an albino's least favorite season).


1979
Graduated with a B.S. (how appropriate) in Psychology.
Ok, so I wasn't exactly on the accelerated program taking so long to get my degree.
That damn music-playing kept distracting me from studying . . .


1983-88
Athlete turns on-air personality as host of my own weekly radio show on KRCL-FM,
Salt Lake City's most progressive station at the time (still is, I'm pretty sure).
My show was a mix of 60s and 70s rock.
I was the king (slowing turning queen) of the airwaves and having a ball!


1988
The siren call of San Francisco -- with its dynamic music scene, great baseball and cultural mindset in direct contrast to Utah -- was irresistible.
I packed my bags and headed west.


1988-2001
All that competitive cycling came in handy with my first job as a bicycle messenger.
The street work evolved to a desk job eventually but it was a
great start to learning my way around my adopted city.


1997
Crowned Miss Transgender San Francisco 1997.
This will give you a clue about other directions my life was taking.


2013
Currently living as a female, working as a professional musician,
a devoted Giants (and Minnesota Twins) fan and proud to be part of this fantastic city.


It's been an interesting six decades so far.