Fifteen minutes

I’m still kind of wowed by the response I’ve gotten to the Times article. I was under the impression that it would only be read by fat activists and people who were bored and decided to skim the article, but people all over the place have been getting in touch with me to talk about it. I’ve been messaged on facebook, called for an interview by a college newspaper, heard rumor of going on a local television show next week to talk about it, and had it brought up today when I was calling my undergrad to beg them to forgive what I owe them ask about the status of my last check. The conversation went like this:

Her: (typing away) “This may sound strange, but were you in the New York Times last Sunday?”
Me: No, sorry.
Her: Oh, sorry about that!
Me: Oh wait! Yes I was! (mutual laughter)
(but probably more like laughter on my side, and creeped-out “I’m-talking-to-a-crazy-person” on her side)

I have to admit, though, that I wish my fifteen minutes had come a little later in the year, maybe after I had enough to buy some nice clothes and get a decent haircut. By which I mean, one that doesn’t involve me cutting my wet hair in front of a mirror and asking Colleen after every cut, “is it still straight”?