When an ass is so much more

Body image. Body positivity.

Or about coming to an appreciation for a previously much maligned back end.

In junior high (that's middle school for all of you non boomers), I was given the nickname "big butt Bowen". It was a nickname that stung because I did indeed have a large ass. I tried to mask it, a difficult endeavor since the current fashion (and remember this is junior high when fitting in was paramount) was wearing hip hugger jeans with midriff tops and my disguise of choice were peasant blouses or dresses. That style choice earned an additional nickname, Mama Cass. For those of you that don't know who Mama Cass was, she was part of the Mamas and Papas and known for her beautiful voice but also for her large body. All about Mama Cass

I was cruelly nicknamed at a time when nicknames can really mess with a girl's psyche. And I spent a lifetime as that girl with the messed up psyche. I'm sure there are more than one of you out there that can relate.

But, (pun kinda intended here) there is a dose of glass-half-full-nish. Though it's taken a good long time to get here. My large derrière is now tres chic as evidenced by the large number of women enhancing their backsides some even going to the extent of surgical enhancements. I've witnessed this a lot recently with my own two peepers.

I am ahead of my time, a trendsetter. My ass isn't just an ass, it's an asset. But alas, no one really sees how since now my asset is now mostly disguised by being in my wheelchair.

Appreciate what you've got. Better late than never!

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