Focus Magazine of SWFL Swimsuit Heat Wave | Page 22

Photography by Steven Popovich

All my classmates taunted us regularly and relentlessly because of our boyish figure. It wasn’t until later in
life I wished I could have that boyish figure back and
the freedom to eat chocolate and Doritos guilt free.
My shame of her waif like body left her sweaty and
miserable almost every summer, yet, she never complained and always had the fortitude to carry me on
any new adventure I desired.
As the years passed she began to change her appearance by growing two little lumps on her scrawny
frame, unmanageable hair and a set of crooked teeth
making her look like a really ugly boy, again, I was
unsympathetic. Even with all my loathing she stayed
true to me by being strong, healthy and agile allowing
me to play, swim, learn and explore the world around
us.

My Body
and I Have A Story To Tell…

By Agi Smith

My body and I have a long history together and it wasn’t
until recently that I recognized the true friendship and
loyalty she has unrelentingly given me. I have no recollection of when she was tiny, pudgy and cute, although I wish I did, because it may have been the only
time I would have looked at her with non-judgmental
eyes. In grade school she embarrassed me regularly
because she was so darn skinny. Everyday I would
look for creative ways to hide her by dressing her in
baggy pants and oversized tops just to conceal those
bird legs. No matter how much chocolate I shoved in
her mouth or Doritos I forced her to munch on she just
wouldn’t gain a pound.
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The entry into puberty brought continuous change and
I stayed committed to hating her for not mutating in a
way I believed would have brought both of us joy. We
were clearly not on the same page. I pushed her daily
to exercise and eat only what I thought would serve
me not her. We spent our entire twenties fighting like
two old ladies. Just like a couple heading for divorce we
grew to hate each other, only in this case, there wasn’t
a judge in the land who would be able to separate us.
I was stuck with her and she was stuck with me. She
was always asking for food or sleep and the more she
asked the less I gave her. Instead, I would punish her
with hours of aerobics to Olivia Newton John’s Let’s
Get Physical. She had no idea the pressure I was under
to make her look good.
By the time we arrived to our thirties we were at an
all out war with each other until one day in our late
thirties, my body and I decided to change the world…
we got pregnant. During this time it was my turn to
show compassion towards my body as she stretched,
bloated, got sick and winced in pain. I even allowed
her to eat all the foods she craved; chips and lots of
French fries - I still allow her a generous amount of
flexibility when it comes to French fries. During the
pregnancy she betrayed me again, allowing our boobs
to grow into the size of two peaches on Barry Bonds
type steroids.
continued on page 25...