We have two cats. One is an attractive black and white cat named Mittens who has a really good personality. The other one is Luna -- a beautiful jet-black furry cat that's always into mischief and drives my husband nuts.
As he was walking out the door this morning we were discussing which cat was prettier and my husband said, ''Mittens -- hands down,'' while I insisted that Luna was the prettier cat. After he walked out the door, I turned back to my children who were seated at the dining room table eating breakfast and asked them which cat they thought was prettier. The boys picked Mittens and then said, ''Luna's mean.'' Laurel, my 12-year-old daughter chose Luna then defended her position to the disagreeing boys by explaining, ''She's prettier; I didn't say she was nicer. Dad just hates Luna'' I agreed with Laurel that Luna was prettier, but her Dad is that way -- he looks at the personality and lets that affect his perception of beauty. He tells me I'm more beautiful than almost anyone -- beautiful women we know, actresses on TV. Who'd have thought this plain ordinary Southern girl (me) is prettier than Christie Brinkley, and the entire female cast of Friends! (If you believe that, you're in for a rude awakening.)
To explain what's coming next, let me tell you I have a good friend who is a very pretty girl -- by any standards. To protect her identity, I'll call her Jane. Anyway, in explaining my point to the kids, I said, ''For example, Dad tells me that I'm even prettier than Jane, and we all know that's not true.'' Josh, my youngest, chimes in, ''You are, Mom!'' At which point, Caleb my 10-year-old lady's man incredulously exclaims, ''NO!! Have you SEEN Jane??!!'' and looks at Joshua as if he must be crazy. Laurel agreed with me. The boys kept up their debate. Joshua continued to insist that I was more beautiful than any woman on the face of the earth -- just like his father would.
This left me to ponder the meaning of beauty. Is it really skin deep, and anyone who says differently is just trying to make you feel good? Or is it on the inside? Or is it some combination of both? What helps you determine beauty? Whatever the answer, I would like to think that my husband honestly believes that I'm prettier than all these other women because he somehow sees the real me that he truly believes is more beautiful than them all.
Marnie Pehrson
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