“I’m going to cut your hair like this,” the hairdresser, a stranger, said moments after meeting me, “to focus eyes away from your Rubenesque belly and your double chin.”

Most people, I suppose, would have taken offense, perhaps flung themselves out of the chair and out the door; maybe cry or make a scene; forever hang on to the hairdresser’s cutting comment.

I, however, laughed and then memorized her exact words, so I could jot them on a growing list of strange comments people made to me during my pregnancy, a list which later found its way into an essay I wrote for the Maine Sunday Telegram. A list which still makes me laugh. (“Good morning, Oinker,” ‘I used to have a dress like that…when I was three.” “Have your lips gotten fatter?”)

In Episode Six: Something Has Gone Awry, Hilary and I reveal my relationship with my mother and some of the wacky things she said to me about my appearance through the years. I know that some listeners might hear her comments as mean-spirited or hurtful, but these are not adjectives I’d ever apply to my mother. I had a great relationship with her, one based on honesty, trust, forthrightness and humor. We did not take ourselves or each other too seriously, which, if you’ve heard some of our podcast episodes, you’ll recognize as pretty much the same relationship Hilary and I share.

During this latest episode, Hilary and I also discuss some of her teenage love escapades and the consequences of my uncanny ability to jump to conclusions.

 Also, we’re introducing a new segment titled Why Did I Save This? When you hear Hilary’s teenage poem about love, you’ll know exactly why we chose this segment title. (I’m not laughing at your poem, Hilary…well, maybe a bit.)

My surprise artifact relates to my 4-H baking experience at the age of nine, an experience which set the stage for my lifetime lack of culinary abilities. (Although there was the time when I used salt instead of sugar in my parents’ 10th anniversary cake.)

As an aside, I’m proud to say I momentarily convinced Hilary that one of the H’s in 4-H stood for Horse.

On that note, we hope you enjoy our latest episode and that you heed our call for your diary entries and funny comments from your mother.