Runner-up

I was cleaning out the garage today and ran across this from my short-lived modeling career at the William Adrian Agency in Pasadena. The agency's best known model at the time was Cheryl Tiegs. She was on the cover of Sports Illustrated three times, and was the subject of one of the most popular posters on the planet. I, on the other hand, was hustled off to a fashion show runway at the local nursing home where the residents voted me Miss Beverly Manor Runner-up, and handed me the plaque shown above. It was merely a sign for Beverly Manor with stick-on letters hastily applied. My stick-on status began to peel off after only 30 years. I'm pretty sure my best friend, Nancy, won the top prize. I'm still bitter.

I was scared to death of Mr. Adrian. I didn't need to be. I don't think he ever noticed me. I don't think he ever remembered my name even once. But one day my dad came to pick me up and Mr. Adrian spent fifteen minutes of class time trying to convince him to join the agency. Somehow he always remembered my dad's name.

I guess it wasn't a total waste. To this day, I still put on my face cream in the way he taught us. And I got a lovely plaque.