Feeling a Little Wicked

It's self-portrait Wednesday again.

I almost decided not to do a self-portrait piece today,
because I had enough of cameras capturing my soul.

You see, yesterday, I finally broke down
and went to the offices of the upscale dating service I'd joined
in order to do the photo shoot and video segment
they mandate with memberships, a way of preventing
false advertising, or more to the point: bait and switch.

So the photographer clicked away
and I tilted my head and showed my teeth
and tried to look fetching and dazzling.

The whole time I was thinking,
"How demeaning. . . to be reduced to advertising
just to find a date."

Don't get me wrong. Mary did a fabulous job.
The final four photos we agreed upon are wonderful,
and I didn't even groan too emphatically even when I saw
the full-body shots. Even though I have a full body.

And when I get the photo disk I paid for,
I'll do a little montage of the results of me
trying my best to look fetching and dazzling.

Now in the larger picture, I suppose this is part of the Universe's plan
to help me learn the art of self-promotion, because I've taken all these
wonderful photographs I'd like to share with the world
in a more concrete form than blogging affords.

But in the smaller picture, my dignity was wounded
and I needed to do something to repair it.
And there's nothing like doing something you love
to get you back in a place of joy.

A place in which you can celebrate
all the crazy, contradictory things life throws your way.

A place in which you can feel playful,
a little sassy,
a little silly

and yes,


even a little Wicked.

But keep it under your hat.