A Year to Remember(12)

So far, I thought I sounded intelligent, but I hoped I wouldn’t come off as desperate.

Even though, I really was desperate.

I could not believe I sat on the actual set of the Morning show in front of Bethany Williams. It was the most surreal experience of my life. She was as nice as I hoped she’d be and she really helped me feel more at ease when we’d met earlier in the green room.

“What qualities are you seeking in your soul mate?” she asked seriously, although her eyes had a playful quality to them.

Apparently, I amused her.

“Male, heterosexual, single, and alive would be good.”

She wouldn’t leave it alone.

“Surely you require something more or you would have settled on someone by now.”

I squirmed in my chair as I dreamed up my perfect guy. “I want someone taller than me, with dark hair and dark eyes, not too thin or too heavy but solid, since I want him to be bigger than me. He should be a Reform or Conservative Jew, employed, smart, masculine, sensitive without being too feminine, like animals and children, enjoy traveling and science fiction, and be open to getting married by next February.” I giggled nervously, and, thank goodness, Bethany laughed along with me.

“That doesn’t sound too difficult to find,” she said sarcastically.

Maybe not for Bethany Williams, but for me, it was plenty difficult.



“Why do you think it’s difficult for you?”

Huh? Had I said that out loud? Crap! I wasn’t even drunk this time.

I guess I’ll be honest.

“I’m on the heavier side. The guys I’m attracted to prefer skinny and athletic women. In fact, most men prefer those types of women. The men that like me tend to have major psychological issues or emotional baggage. They feel safe with me, because they’re not threatened by my average looks and they believe no one else would want me. I stayed with them and let them treat me crappy.” I think I just said way more than I should have, but Bethany seemed curious.

“Why would you stay with someone if they don’t treat you well?”

“It’s not just me. Plenty of women stay in relationships with men that aren’t good for them. Low self-esteem, body issues, fear of abandonment. Oh, and my personal favorite, a woman’s love can change and heal a man. But you can’t. They never change.”

I had given this speech to my friends throughout the years, and they always agreed with me. Bethany nodded in agreement as well.

“Why do you think your story has resonated with so many women?”

“I’ve been waiting for my prince to come along since I first saw Cinderella when I was five years old. Waiting for my happily ever after. I think we’re taught at a very young age we won’t be complete until we find our other half. That’s how I feel. Incomplete. I want to feel complete, and I think other women feel the same way.”

Or, maybe it’s just me.

I glanced at Missy, and she had tears in her eyes.

Nope, not just me.

“Well, we look forward to sharing in your journey this year as you search for your soul mate.” Bethany faced the camera. “Sara will be back a couple of times this year to give us an update on her progress, and you can follow her blog through our website. Thanks for coming, Sara.”

“Thanks for having me, Bethany,” I responded naturally. After all, I’d been watching the show since the sixth grade.

We finished the interview, and Missy ran to me to give me a hug. “I can’t believe Bethany Williams has just interviewed you on National television. Between last week’s interview with Detroit Channel Four and the Morning show, you’re gonna be famous!”

“You think?” I felt overwhelmed as I fought back the nausea threatening to ruin my moment in the spotlight and my new shirt.

Would men find me charming? Or desperate?

I couldn’t wait to get back and see how many responses I’d get from my profile, now that I had advertised my availability to millions of people.





CHAPTER 4




A Year to Remember Blog



Sara Friedman’s journey to find her soul mate



March 2, 2012 We’re Off to See the Wizard!





Welcome to the first entry of my blog chronicling my search for my soul mate. If you watched the YouTube Video like millions of others, you may wonder if any one event triggered my pledge to give myself one year to find and marry my soul mate. In addition to drinking an entire bottle of excellent Kosher Champagne, several factors led to my toast.

Don’t mind me, but I might as well use this opportunity to rant. It’s not often I get the chance to say what’s on my mind. Let me start off by saying this:

Discrimination against fat people remains an acceptable practice in our country. Federal law and most states’ laws fail to protect this class against discrimination afforded to other groups in regards to employment or housing. While this country continues to view obesity as a problem of epic proportions, the focus remains on the cure of obesity. In this country alone, people spend over thirty-five billion dollars a year on weight loss products. We still treat obese people with distain, perpetuating the belief people are fat because they lack willpower. Children tease their classmates for being fat, even when they’re not. Adults refuse to hire an obese person due to the incorrect assumption a fat person must be lazy and therefore, incapable of doing a job. Men either find fat women unattractive or fear their friends will disapprove if they date a fat woman.