My speaking engagement went great last night - I always love it when the special feature is a fashion show; it's the perfect lead-in for me to show off my giant, fuzzy turtle slippers. When the show is over and I'm introduced, I say, "You know, I've always wanted to model, but there just isn't much demand for chubby petites! But it just occurred to me, I'm up here with the microphone - I can do whatever I want!" Then I explain that it's very important for your "look" to be coordinated from head to toe. Shoes make the outfit.

Next I step out from behind the podium wearing these ghastly things on my feet and proceed to strut around the audience like I'm Kate Moss:






It brings the house down and I get to live out my fantasty. Sort of. I'm much thinner in my fantasies.

Here's a poem I wrote for my daughter, Lauren:

Tuck-in Time

Goodbye, little one, I know you have to go now
You were so brave, uprooting yourself  from an environment
so safe, so sure, so secure

You risked. I applaud you. I know that it was hard

And you were so proud of yourself. Yeah! High five!
And now, look where you are...alone, fighting the fear,
the gut grabbing fear that comes first thing in the morning
and doesn't leave at night. And so, your brilliant smile that
shone for such a brief time, has disappeared, as you will disappear for awhile.
Back to the shell to hide...to think...to cry.