Do you ever look back at a photo and think, "Wow, I looked so much better back then?" even though, at the time, you didn't think you looked that great? Well that is how I feel right now when I look at this picture. It was taken this past October right before the pie overload on Thanksgiving, the daily holiday cocktails in Miami, the chocolate chip cookie overdose on New Years Eve, the Boston blizzard baking blitz, and the New Orleans delicious damnation trip. In other words, about 5 to 7 pounds ago!
It was taken during a boudoir photography session that my husband surprised me with for my 51st birthday.
Honestly I was truly flattered but also deeply horrified by this gift. Posing in my panties was not my ambition or fantasy. For years I had actual nightmares that I had showed up naked at board meetings and school functions and, trust me, it wasn't sexy. So, when my husband presented me with this unusual gift, I was quite hesitant. But why exactly? I wondered.
Was I worried about what people would think? That it would be tacky? That my kids would be mortified? That I dreaded lingerie shopping? Probably a bit of all of the above. But the truth was that I was ashamed of what I considered a less-than-perfect-body. As much as I hated to admit it, I longed for a flat belly. Despite eating healthy and exercising regularly, my belly was -- and always will be -- mushy.
Never one to ignore an opportunity to jump out of my comfort zone, though, I quietly whispered to myself "you can do this".
The session turned out to be a blast and, much to my dsymorphic surprise, the pictures came out beautiful. Although I haven't shared any of these pictures with anyone until now, I secretly hope that one day my grandchildren will find the album and think that grandma was kind of HOT way back when! Until then, I will use them as a reminder that feeling great tastes better than any pie, cocktails, or cookies and that posing in your panties is not such a bad idea after all.
Earlier on Huff/Post50:
