Since losing 50 pounds in the late 1960s, I’ve been thin,
but I didn’t realize that slimness had become an important part of my
self-image. During my recent stay at
Memorial Sloan Kettering, so much liquid was pumped into me intravenously, that
I gained 25 or 30 pounds. It wouldn’t
be so bad if the extra weight had been more or less evenly distributed, but it
wasn’t. When I looked in the mirror I
was shocked to see that I looked like one of those Neolithic Venuses minus the
breasts – all stomach, hips, and thighs.
So when a nurse uncovered me, I would remark that I was
terribly swollen, as if to say, “no, I’m really not like that.” How ridiculous. The nurse didn’t care how I looked, but I
cared. This was the first intimation
that my body image was important to me. It’s
nice to learn new things, especially at my age.
