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Kevin Bacon Surprises Students at High School Where ‘Footloose’ Was Filmed — Announces He’s Visiting Them for Prom

After some very serious lobbying from students at Payson High School in Payson, Utah, where “Footloose” was filmed, Kevin Bacon announced Friday that he would be returning to the high school for this year’s senior prom. 

“My Last Thought Was a Desperate Plea to God, ‘Lord, Give Me the Strength to Die Well’”: Mom With ‘Invisible Illness’ Shares Her Harrowing...

"'Help me to not look like I am suffocating,' I prayed. 'Lord, please protect my son’s heart from this.’ And I faded away."

“My Husband Turned Blue to Gray”: Wife In Shock Over the One Drink That Killed Her Husband

"The doctor's exact words were 'People drinking these drinks are playing Russian Roulette with their lives.' I was blown away and couldn’t believe just one drink could do this damage"... And KIDS can buy these anywhere.

Is It OK With God if I Get a Boob Job?: What Plastic Surgery Means for Christian Women

Clear as glass. Raising my recently rinsed wine glass to the light, I can see all the way through, and the clarity invites me to marvel.

That’s how I remember Miranda’s declaration, [14] years ago. Clear as light-trimmed glass.

“My husband and I have agreed that when I’m done having babies, I can at least get a lift, if not a full-blown boob job,” Miranda announced casually in the middle of our breastfeeding conversation.

If I didn’t have photos to remind me of Luke’s first chubby-faced giggle, I might not even remember it. It’s the same for his pulling away from the couch to take his first wobbly steps, which looked like dangerous tightrope walking as he lunged forward, one pink, fleshy foot in front of the other. Photographs call to mind all of the important firsts that I know that I saw. But the memory, without any pictures, is a tricky thing — sometimes hazy and unreliable.

But I remember, very clearly, Miranda’s admittance at our toddler playgroup that morning. I didn’t snap a photo of her saying it or journal my surprised response, but I can still hear her voice the words. At any moment, I can press Play on the button that resides in the recesses of my amygdala, where the processing of emotions begins its journey.

Luke was barely three months old, just sleeping more than six hours. I was suffering from a lack of sleep and a lack of purpose. I had recently left my teaching job, decided against pursuing further graduate study, and had found myself enslaved to the never-ending nap and nursing schedule of a newborn.

What in the heck are we doing? 

My child is perfect, so why am I feeling torn about motherhood?

That morning, in an attempt to not lose my everlovin’ mind, I packed my diaper bag for the next world war and drove to a new mom’s neighborhood playgroup. Hauling the [40]-pound bag onto my left shoulder and balancing the [40]-pound infant car-carrier on my right forearm, I long-stepped my way to the front door. A few loud knocks later, a smiling woman greeted me. I couldn’t believe my good fortune.

A whole group of women bustled in the hostess’ living room. Some bounced babies left and right, and most of the moms sat criss-cross-applesauce on the floor in a large circle. Babies rested on their backs cooing, and a few whined in disappointment for the few minutes of tummy time they were forced to tolerate.

At some point, we all ended up together.  I’m thinking there were eight of us — all first-time moms, all of us toting little ones, aging six months or younger.

Two-month-old Luke stares up at Daddy, and we are bright-faced and smitten.

I don’t remember what we munched on in between stories or how many of us suffered from spit-up launchings. But I remember the women in the room laughing. Female laughter was a healing balm that morning, comforting all of us as we shared stories. First-time motherhood has a way of opening up wounds from our past that only community can soothe.

And I remember Miranda’s comment about plastic surgery.

At the time, I didn’t know what to think. But I remember how I felt. FEAR. My body responded in that moment, stiffened by fear.

Was I offended that she was making commentary on the rest of us, our bodies having recently endured the breast transformation that nine months of pregnancy assures and breastfeeding demands?

Was I suddenly terrified that my husband could have been thinking the same way about my top shelf, now that motherhood had made its mark on one of his favorite parts of my body?

Was I angry that she was setting the tone for how women should look after having babies?  I mean, does it help my man and the rest of the husbands out there to look around the room and see women all surgically improved and wonder, “Why doesn’t my wife look like that?”

Was my future daughter (didn’t know then I would be mothering #cincochicos) going to ask me about why I chose not to fix my mommy body if I elected to avoid the knife?

Was I ashamed of my body changing?

Recently, I conducted a Facebook poll with this question as the header: Do we shame women who have had plastic surgery? The results are in, and they are shocking!

Do we shame women who have had plastic surgery?

43% Yes, 57% No

Yes, it seems on the surface that the responses reflect a very middle-of-the-road response. Bleh. How shocking is it when a little less than half of the respondents say we shame women who have chosen to have part of their body altered? And more than half really have no problem with it.

These results are shocking because they reflect how we, in the 21st century, relate to people. 

Kevin Bacon Surprises Students at High School Where ‘Footloose’ Was Filmed — Announces He’s Visiting Them for Prom

After some very serious lobbying from students at Payson High School in Payson, Utah, where “Footloose” was filmed, Kevin Bacon announced Friday that he would be returning to the high school for this year’s senior prom. 

“My Last Thought Was a Desperate Plea to God, ‘Lord, Give Me the Strength to Die Well’”: Mom With ‘Invisible Illness’ Shares Her Harrowing...

"'Help me to not look like I am suffocating,' I prayed. 'Lord, please protect my son’s heart from this.’ And I faded away."

“My Husband Turned Blue to Gray”: Wife In Shock Over the One Drink That Killed Her Husband

"The doctor's exact words were 'People drinking these drinks are playing Russian Roulette with their lives.' I was blown away and couldn’t believe just one drink could do this damage"... And KIDS can buy these anywhere.