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This is actually one of my earliest memories. I was three and I remember this wonderful purple toy car and giving my new baby brother a ride in it. I guess stripes were big that year.

My stage debut in the 3rd grade. I think I had to introduce "God Bless America" or some such nonsense. Still, the experience provided me with important experience in upstaging, stealing the spotlight and comedic timing. (Oh, and check out my expert handling of that mike stand.)

Mom and I exchange bows as she dresses up in a kimono costume. This is what is known as foreshadowing, had my life been a work of art -- Oops! I mean, it is a work of art, but it's a work in progress...

At 14, I couldn't stand it when my Dad used to take pictures of me. And it shows. Notice my huge amount of 'tude in this photo. I shudder looking back at what a hard time I used to give him. But I thank him now, from the bottom of my heart, for lovingly documenting our family life so beautifully over the decades.

My uncle had these beautiful samoyed dogs that made these adorable puppies. I don't know why, but they really liked cornbread, as you can see here.

Dad looks really professional here. He's actually more comfortable out in the yard gardening than in the office officiating -- not that you could tell from this photo.

I took this one of Mom reading Amy Tan's Kitchen God's Wife. She wanted to show off her new porch swing to make her library friends jealous. I think it worked.

My Uncle Bob gave Christian and me this wonderful Welsh Corgi when I was five. We named him, unimaginatively enough, Corki. He was a very loving, frisky little dog.

When Christian and I left home, Mom needed a little company. Marmelade and Pepper gave her an outlet for her affections and an excuse for major spoilage.

Ever seen a more glamourous pet pic? I haven't. Here, k.d. (a.k.a. Katydid) poses for Daddy.

Hiya, Sally!

Maury and Sally Shriftman were the gliteratti of the Shreveport VFW (Veterans of Fabulous Wars) club. They worked tirelessly in support of better parties, stronger martinis, higher hair, darker glasses and more elaborately decorated cakes for their fellow veterans. My boyfriend Joel and I found some of their extremely well-documented photo albums at an estate sale in West Monroe in the mid-1990s. Ever since then, we have worked to keep their memories alive because we just adore their carpe diem attitude and general fabulousness.

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