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On a scale of one to ten?

5/4/2022

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Go with me on this.
 
You’re in a doctor’s office because something hurts. Maybe it’s your stomach, a persistent pain in your shoulder, or a twisted ankle.
 
Sitting in the harsh lighting of this clinical space, hoping for relief, you’re asked the inevitable question, probably by a nurse: “Can you describe your pain on a scale of one to ten?”
 
I’ve been in this situation too many times. And no, I’m not a hypochondriac. (That’s my dad.) The answer I always want to give is, “No. I can’t.”
 
I have actually given that answer and it’s been met with this question. “But can you try?”
 
Augh!
 
Here’s my problem with this question. My scale of one to 10 will differ from the nurse’s scale of one to 10, which likely differs from the scale of the last person she/he asked that useless question to.
 
If I say “five,” and on their scale my pain would have been an eight, am I getting the right treatment? I say no.
 
If (god forbid) I want pain medication, will I get it if I say five?
 
But if I say nine will I seem needy? Will they think I’m a closeted addict?
 
Once upon a time, I had a skiing accident. Well, I’ve actually had lots of them, but this is the one that required immediate medical attention.
 
I’d been skiing on a slope that was too steep, with too many moguls and too much deep, heavy, wet snow. I was skiing over one of those moguls, my skis decided to stop, and in the tradition of gravity sports, my body kept going forward. I heard something snap.
 
The snap was the tearing of my large calf muscle. Crazy pain. When I finally got to the ski patrol medical hut, the very nice, very saccharin, very condescending nurse asked me in a voice which should be reserved only for small children, “Can you describe your pain on a scale of one to ten?”
 
In a clear, level tone, I responded: “I want a big bucket of drugs.”
 
See gave a small laugh as if to say, “I know you’re joking.” I was not. She then said, “But can you describe your pain on a scale of one to ten?”
 
As someone who’s never before been so clear about their pain, I thought: Two can play this game. You’re gonna repeat yourself? Back at ya. “I want a big. Bucket. Of. Drugs.”
 
I was having the kind of pain that makes people pass out. Passing out is arguably a 10+. And the people who pass out are obviously measuring using a different scale than I am. I was still awake and cogent and in pain.
 
I think a better question is, “On a scale of one to ten, what is your ability to suffer fools?”
 
Answer, minus five.
 
But your scale may vary.
 
Stay Careful-ish
Honey Parker

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Since When Does Curvy Mean Fat?

1/20/2022

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​I’m just going to come out and say it. Since when does curvy mean fat?
 
Seriously.   
 
I did not get the memo.
 
Why am I bringing this up now?
 
I recently finished writing the third book in the Careful-ish series (thank you), and sent it to my editor. When he questioned one character’s physical appearance, I was taken aback. He assumed that Carmen was overweight. I asked why he thought that, and he said it was because I had described her as curvy.
 
What?
 
Doesn’t curvy mean someone with curves? An ample bust, a smaller waist, nice hips…curves?
 
So, I argued with him.


Not being one to let things go, he needed to prove his point. That’s his job. I, of course, was waiting for him to be proven wrong. But no. If you Google “curvy,” you’re flooded with images of plus size women.
 
This can’t be.
 
So, I went to the dictionary. “Curvy – (Of a woman's figure) shapely and voluptuous.” See!
 
But then I went to the Urban Dictionary which says, “Despite popular belief, curvy does not mean fat. Curvy is an hour-glass figure; large breasts, hips, and with a comparatively small waist.”
 
Popular belief? Why is that belief popular?
 
My impression is that too many people walking the Earth feel that any departure from a stick figure is fat, unwelcome, not desirable, not worthy of being desired.
 
Depressing. But there is hope.
 
I recently moved to the American deep south. And I am pleased to say that things here are a bit different in regard to framing the curvy debate. I was invited to someone’s pool. When I said that I wasn’t feeling particularly bathing suit-ish after New Year’s Eve, she said, “Oh come on. I’m fluffier than you.”
 
Fluffy.
 
I love fluffy.
 
All of a sudden, having a shape other than a straight line was a warm fuzzy. Playful. Dare I say, desirable?
 
So, what is the take away?
 
I’d like to reclaim the word “curvy.” To embrace it. Because curves are worth embracing. No matter how large or small, curves are visually interesting, can be exciting, and are worthy of being embraced.
 
Curvy is not a size. It can be thin, ample, large and beyond.
 
Curvy is shapely.
 
So, if—excuse me, when you read Daughter of Careful-ish or the forthcoming Bride of Careful-ish, please know that Carmen is a beautiful, curvy Latina. And you’d be crazy not to be attracted to her. 
 
Cheers,
Honey


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    Author

    Honey Parker has been writing, writing, writing for decades, decades, decades. In there, she has also been a standup comedian, a Hollywood screenwriter, a director, and a co-author of edgy business books. Careful-ish is her debut novel. It is the first in a trilogy. It is comedy-ish. ​

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