Pictures of Marilyn Monroe

Note I said pictures of Marilyn Monroe, not Marilyn herself. I have no problems with the woman, I just do not find the story of her life very inspiring--her death was so beautiful and ironic it is a tragedy, but the rest of her life just seemed very pathetic, not necessarily at her fault.

But the pictures of her--they are gorgeous. I enjoy a stunning woman as much as the next person, in a purely aesthetically appreciative manner, of course. Marilyn is on another level.

She oozes sensuality, glamor, old Hollywood magic.

Looking at photos of her makes me wish I could be sucked back into that time, just to stand on the corner with a cheering crowd during a movie premiere. It was a time when less was more, when subtlety was celebrated and the word "tantalizing" was put into practice.

The thing about Marilyn is I don't react in my usual instinctual catty woman-hating way. I don't see this untouchable being with unmatchable features who I know I should be jealous of and threatened by.

I see pictures of her and I am so happy to be a woman. I think of my imperfections, but then I shrug them away. I remember the reasons why I should feel beautiful.

In another life, in another reality, I'd like to talk with her and give her a much-needed hug. Then I'd thank her for creating a standard of beauty that I could actually measure myself against without feeling ugly.