From the Author - April 30, 2021: It’s been over ten years since I wrote this book. I hadn’t wanted to re-read it, once it was finished, because I hadn’t wanted to re-live most of that experience. Last week I re-read it. I actually found myself laughing out loud in a handful of parts. I also found myself cringing in a handful of other parts, and rolling my eyes. Enough with the designers and the shoes, already. It’s not a catalog. (I still love shoes.) So many all-caps. So many exclamation points. So much exasperation and indignation. I said “racist” when I meant “culturist.” It’s clunkier, and maybe not even a word? I called Oscar Wilde British, when he’s Irish (Stephen Fry played him in the 1997 film, and he’s very British, and that might have contributed to my misstep). I’ll have to live with those cringey moments in print for all eternity, which is fine.

To quote Arthur Miller: “The best work that anybody ever writes is the work that is on the verge of embarrassing him, always.”

We’re all here to learn lessons. Look at what you did. Reflect. Accept. I don’t regret writing the book when I did. I’d never have remembered all the anecdotes in such detail. And I would still recommend it as a humorous memoir. After all, it is always fun to read about someone else’s character flaws and mistakes. Honest reflection: I am annoyed by the Gretchen in the last third of the book, but love her anyway. She’s human. If you’re annoyed by her in the first few pages, put the book down. It’s not for you.