NOTE: If you want to enter Diana Fox's agent pitch contest, enter here - the contest is open until midnight on Wed night. (If you include your entry on this post, it might get lost and not count.)
In Like Mandarin, 14-year-old Grace Carpenter would give anything to be like 17-year-old Mandarin Ramey -- the bold,
carefree wild girl of their small Wyoming town.
I love this book.
How many times growing up did you wish and wish you could be someone else?
When I was growing up, I always wanted to be like my mom.
I know it sounds cheesy, but it's true. Though, I'd never suck up my pride and tell her.
- She was tall and thin and petite. I was short with an athletic build.
- She had boobs. I didn't.
- She could play tennis. I could only play if it counts when the ball bounces off your head because you forget to swing. Though my dad made me keep trying.
- She went disco dancing with my dad every friday night. I could not dance if my life depended on it. Seriously, even Elane on Seinfeld dances better than me.
- I loved her hands - so soft and petite. My hands - scarred from being dragged by a dog.
- Her hair was blonde. Mine was mousy brown.
- She never tooted, burbed, or made any noises that were less than ladylike. Me - not so polite.
- She won 1st runner up in Ms. Palm Springs. I never won anything, especially not a pagent.
- She had thin arms and long legs. I had stubby legs that made a hydrant laugh and muscular arms that I was self conscious about until ---- 5 minutes ago. Ok so they still bother me.
- She looked great in tank tops. I did not (still don't)
- She got to see Elvis. I saw Kenny Rogers and Dolly Pardon in the Islands in the Stream tour. (uh - not the same thing)
- She is a summer color. Me a fall. Not easy to find in Florida because it is summer all year long.
- She used to sing in a local theatre. I was in the audience.
My mom was everything I wasn't.
And to add insult to injury, people used to always tell me I looked like my dad ------ um gee thanks.
When I was in high school - it was Appolonia from in Purple Rain. (Specifically, I mimicked her cool striped eye makeup.)
When I was in college, it was my best friend, Beth (also a petite blonde).
When my ex-fiance called off our wedding, I wanted to be ANYONE but me.
Now, I want to be (okay, write) like Kirsten. (because I could never look this cool in grass Yes that is her adorable author picture. It's so good, it makes you sick right? Oh yeah, and she's funny too.)
So don't let me embarrass myself alone and own my pitiful, let's hear it in the comments. Who's your Mandarin?
