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Take the Me Out of Me?
By S.D. Craig
Published December 2001

Is understanding then the answer, to those who want to take the me out of me?  Mold, reshape, rework, reaffirm that I want to be more like them?  What does them mean?  Why would they do that to me? 

Take the me out of me, it seems, and there are others that would do this willingly.  Whether I was willing or not.  I know this.  They'd look me over, strip me naked, stand me up on a pedestal and nod, whispering behind their busybody hands.

"She is heavy, let's slice off some thigh, get rid of some of that firm derriere, it's just too much.  We'll lift her breasts and lighten their load.  We could take her tight calves and tell her upper arms to emulate them.  Oh, and that waistline.  Well.  At least she still has one at her size..."

I do know what they'd say and what they would do to me.  They'd make me starve in the name of health, they'd make me exercise at their pace (which is either no pace at all, or frenzied when in use).  They would drag me shopping at the most expensive and vogue stores, buying only the best in the tiniest possible size.  They would revamp my hairstyle and tell me I could not wear my baseball caps anymore.  They would really take away my smile.  But in its place would be lip liner and lipstick, put on hourly, along with a complete makeover, a hip purse and shoes. 

And somewhere underneath all that, I would be expected to be me.  Silly them.  Where would I find myself in all the trappings of their fine materialistic cravings?  

Would I be there if I stuck me with a pin?  Would I say ouch?

You bet I would.  But not for the reasons they would tell you.

About the writer: SD Craig is a freelance writer and editor of LovingYourCurves.com and was given the nickname "Chatterbox" by fellow writers. At age fifty, Craigs Southern flair and sense of humor give her plenty to write about with a rapier wit and a wacky outlook. Her articles on body image (her biggest passion), marriage/divorce and relationships, family, friends, career issues, computers, the Internet, horses, baseball, movie reviews and writing tips remind one of Erma Bombeck or Dave Barry. A freelance writer who once juggled five columns then got real, Craig welcomes your e-mails and feedback on her articles. Drop her a hello at sdcraig922@yahoo.com or stop by www.lovingyourcurves.com.

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