Chin hairs, stretch marks and cellulite.

Last week as Nick and I were driving out to Cyvadier market on a date, I noticed a chin hair poking me. It was like a MAN chin hair. Now, this wasn't surprising as I have 4 of these guys between my chin and jawline. They didn't start growing there until my mid-20's (or at least I don't think they did.) And they are nasty. So, every few weeks, I am careful to pluck, or perhaps have Nick pluck it for me. (This is in addition to my rockin' Italian Jersey girl mustache.)

So back to my date (cause this is all really romantic talk, isn't it?). I was in the truck and I was thinking about how I really, really hope nothing ever happens to Nick. The awesome thing about being married for a chunk of time is that this person KNOWS you. They know about your 4 chin hairs, they've gotten GREAT up-close views of your cellulite, they were there when the stretch marks were forming, they have not just felt your nasty calloused feet, but PedEgg them for you regularly. You can have gas-passing competitions and it's FUN instead of being embarrassing. I remember my pastor saying something like, "You can only be loved to the extent that you're known."

Nick knows me.

I mean, sure, you can't ever know everything about a person. But it's pretty invigorating to know that someone knows all these things about me and still loves(and likes) me.

I was explaining this to Nick recently. I think the conversation started like this, "I used to think I would remarry if anything were to happen to you, but now I am just not sure. You just KNOW so much about me. I don't want to have to go through that process again." (As an aside-- Don't be so alarmed that we talk to each other like that, we're always letting each other know who we think they should re-marry in the event of the worst case scenario. I have some FUNNY stories about the criteria we've come up with, but it's more of an "in person" thing as you'd need a lot of context. Don't think it would translate well to written word.)

So as I said this, Nick (being super spiritual) says, "Yeah, it's naked and unashamed. That's what you're talking about. When God created Adam and Eve the Bible said they were naked and unashamed." And then I said, "Dang you Nick Mangine, why did you have a better way of putting it than I did? Now I can't blog about it." (And he assured me that I could and even pass it off as my own words, but I can't in good conscience do that, so, know that the spiritual component was offered by Nick..)

I know very few (maybe zero?) women who would say they love their bodies. I hate my body. But isn't it great that there's this place on earth where I can experience being "naked and unashamed?" That feeling is all just the tiniest taste (I think) of what God's kingdom is like. Being fully known and still loved and cherished. It's all a part of that "let your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven" mentality. Sounds pretty good to me.

More is coming soon on this topic of food/bondage/fat/freedom/hunger/self-image…