IWSG : Staying On Your Toes

                                                                       



As the first anniversary of   Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group is approaching, I can't help but notice how our personal inadequacies fuel our writing. From a very young age we are taught to choose our words carefully. Emotions come into play, and often heated moments exploit our insecurities. As writers we can use these moments to either enrich our characters, or to help strengthen our own.

Recently, I ran into a man who designed our acrylic mailbox. He miraculously put all of the pieces back together for us when a vandal knocked it over. Then he did it all over again when a newly licensed family member accidentally backed into it at the end of our driveway.  He smiled when I told him that Humpty Dumpty's men wished they had him on their team. I hadn't seen him in awhile, and he told me that not only had I lost weight, but that I looked ten years younger. Of course it helped that we were at an outdoor evening event, where lighting was scarce, and alcohol was plentiful. Though I knew he was exaggerating, the compliment was greatly appreciated as I was very self conscious about the newly acquired scar on my nose from extensive sun damage.

When I relayed the story to my mother she said, "Oh that's happened to me before. People used to get me confused with this very heavy woman that I worked with. He probably thought you were someone else."

The next day I got together with an old friend from high school whom I hadn't seen in a few years. She looked exquisite as always, and I told her that she really never ages. She thanked me, and looked like she was hard pressed to say something positive about me. Then a few hours later she turned to me and said in complete seriousness, "Julie, you have really nice toes."

Hence, I decided to take a step in the right direction by scheduling a pedicure, and investing in a therapeutic foot cream. Because I already wear orthotics, it's only a matter of time before I inherit my maternal familial bunions, and  hammertoes, so I have to take full advantage of this gift. Naot and Birkenstock are the only sandals that I could comfortably walk in, thus it's unlikely that I'll start  parading around in sexy stilettos to show off my toe cleavage. As winter approaches, my greatest challenge will be in securing a pair of open toed snow boots.