"Hey, good lookin..." --Hank Williams, Jr.

It's strange the power that words can have to simultaneously flatter and flatten you. Sort of like the gaming that gets perpetrated these days... "You don't sweat a lot for a fat chick."

Early in my second career (computer engineer), I went with a small team (the boss and four other men) to Germany to meet with our counterparts, listen to various talks, and present information.

I was young, nervous, inexperienced. My boss was an exceptionally good boss and he encouraged me. His boss I only knew of; I'd never met him. He turned up in Germany.

At the appointed time, I delivered my presentation. It was as technical and boring as the other talks. The audience politely applauded and then the session broke. My boss and colleagues gathered around me and told me I'd done a good job. My boss' boss came over and introduced himself to me. Then he said, "You gave a good presentation. It's nice to see you're not just a pretty face." He then walked away.

My boss saw the thunder clouds in my face and immediately tried to do damage control... "Now, now, he didn't mean that. He thought he was paying you a compliment. He's from the old school of business... he doesn't know any better."

These days, if someone tells me I'm attractive, I am certainly pleased but there's still that tiny part of me that hears my old boss' boss.

Being a decoration? Not high on my list. I want to be viewed as attractive. I think everyone does. But it isn't first on my preferred list of adjectives. I like to think I am more than whatever it is you see, or think you see, when you look at me (whether you find me attractive or not.) *

The question(s) of the day: What adjective would it please you most for people to say about you? Where does attractiveness come in on your list?



* I realize many of you haven't seen me but work with me here. Suffice to say I am movie star quality attractive. Think Ernest Borgnine.