Hello Beautiful People,
I have always been a fan of Jennifer Weiner, her stories have such heart & laughter & life…how is it possible NOT to like her?
I recently read her short story, Swim.
Yes, it’s a short story, but, it spoke to my soul in a way that no book ever has…
…you see, I was born with a port wine birthmark on my nose, my cheek, and my upper lip. Now, for those of you who have seen my picture, you may be wondering what the heck I’m talking about, as it’s not hugely obvious in most photographs.
My parents started taking to me a dermatologist at NYU when I was five. Yes, five. They were advised to do whatever they could to get rid of this birthmark, as it was seen as making me more susceptible to skin cancer. So, they did what any amazing, wonderful, caring parents would…they found me the best possible care.
And it was OK, for awhile…I mean, laser surgery is never fun. It HURTS, but, I suppose the reward outweighs the pain, as I do not have a birthmark on my cheek any longer. The one on my nose? Yeah, it’s still there. And I continued with laser surgery, trying to get it removed, long after my cheek birthmark was gone. My parents would try to schedule my appointments over long breaks, but, sometimes they couldn’t. And the recovery process for this was about week, in which my nose would be purple, scabbed, and just downright ugly.
Children can be so cruel. I say that as someone who has been bullied, I say that as a teacher and an adult who has seen it firsthand. I will never understand why some feel compelled to ridicule others, I only hope that one day we will live in a world where that is not possible.
Alas, I digress.
We were talking about Swim. I fell in love with Ruthie right away, when she started talking about her face. My love was cemented when she referenced Dermablend, a cosmetic that is only known to us special, beautiful, wonderful folk who feel like we should cover up the scars and beauty that make us who we are.
Jennifer, you have managed to capture the feelings of my youth into this short story. You have found a way to give a voice and platform for those of us who cannot speak on o
ur own. This work, well, it’s a beautiful thing. It has touched my soul in more ways than I can count, and I thank for that.
I can only guess what beauty and amazing things are in store for me when I finally get a copy of The Next Best Thing…all of us here at The Write Teacher(s) cannot wait to read it.
Friends, go read Swim! Last time I checked, it’s FREE on iBooks. And then, go get yourself a copy of , you know we will be doing the same thing.
Live, Love, Learn,