You are so beautiful to me

by Elizabeth Varian

"You are so beautiful to me" (Joe Cocker) wonderful words from a song that speaks my heart. I've known you for many years now, you've been an extremely important influence in my life. Now, I want to take my stab at being an influence on yours.

Our society shows a great deal of mixed messages that can confuse a person's thinking. With our media reporting new extreme diets, our fashion industry using toothpick-sized models, and our nation in a 20-year fear of being more than a size 4, I can see why there are so many starving themselves for the ideal image. But, there's another side to the coin. The side that our society has proven really matters... the personal side of a wonderful person no matter what his/her weight.

Rosie O'Donnell used to be a size 8/10 when she was a comedian starting out. She is no longer that size and has a tremendous audience that proves her weight isn't an issue to her greatness and beauty. Della Reese, Touched by an Angel star, singer, and minister, is loved by millions. She is known for frequently speaking her mind. She's not known as the "over-weight" star, she's is known simply as Della Reese. Delta Burke, her firing from Designing Women was irony in itself. The producer, not a size 8 woman herself, wanted Delta to be of the size that seemingly society wanted. Funny, how society reacted to the show when she was replaced with a more petite woman.

So, what I want to say is, "Yes, you are not a size 8. What you are is a beautiful woman. An honest, trustworthy, and decent human being. You are a very intelligent and sincere person. You are a great friend, a confidant, and guide in my life. Someday, I know you will look in the mirror and see these wonderful qualities looking back at you. I love you."

Your Friend,

Elizabeth M. Miller
(this was written before I was married)