And the answer to yesterday’s “who did I used to look like” post is . . .

None other than Shelley Long!  That’s right – Miss Diane Chambers from the hit 80′s show “Cheers”.

Do you see any resemblance?  Is it the hair?  The fair complexion?  The eyes?  What?  WHAT IS IT?!?!  After all these years I still can’t figure it out!  But 437 people who stopped me on the street back in 1987 can’t all be wrong – can they?

Some of yesterday’s guesses included:

• Farrah Fawcett (really Belle?  I am flattered, but maybe you should have your eyes checked)
• Bea Arthur (dear husband . . . you’re so dead.  You have till the end of the weekend to make it up to me – get started!)
• Sarah Michelle Gellar (really Cath?  Buffy the Vampire Slayer?  I think that’s a bit of a stretch)
• Cheryl Ladd (hmmm . . . actually Lori, that’s not a bad guess)
• and several (again, I’m puzzled) Shelley Long guesses

But the winner is actually Elle, who was the first to guess correctly at 9:34 am.  Well done!  If you actually want the guinea pig or the autographed picture of me, just email me your mailing address.  If I don’t hear from you, I’ll completely understand.

I would,  however, be remiss if I didn’t discuss a few items of concern surrounding this picture.

Item #1 – what’s with the bangs? I remember that I took great pains to get them feathered back and up in that particular puff-ball, but I don’t know why.  It’s clearly not a good look and the slightest hint of rain or humidity and, well, bang disaster.

Item #2 – what young woman in her very early 20′s wears a blazer and a string of pearls? Again, I have no response.  I don’t know what I was thinking.  In fact I’m pretty sure I let my room-mate help select my wardrobe for this picture, and she actually had really good taste.  So all I can think of is that she was trying to sabotage me.

Item #3 – what’s up with the serious face? Shouldn’t I have been smiling?  I was in my early twenties, single and living with my best friend.  I had a sweet little office job that paid the rent and then some.  I had my own car and went out with my friends almost every night.  Life was good.  Really good.  I should have been grinning from ear to ear.  Or laughing hysterically.  Or at least something other than this blank “deer caught in the headlights”  stare.

Item #4 – why would I have sat for such a portrait when I was no longer in school and didn’t have to? Another very good question.  Well I’ll tell you why.  I had it taken for my parents.  I had moved out (with their love and blessings) at this time in my life and was working full time and I suppose I wanted to give them a picture of the new “grown up” me.  The “see Mom, you don’t have to worry about me at all.  I managed to get myself up, wash and dressed and to this portrait appointment on time, so I must be doing just fine.  And if you’re missing me you can just look at this very lovely picture” kind of portrait.  From Sears.  Because that’s where grown up, responsible girls in their early twenties get their portraits done.  Apparently.

Hope you liked it Mom.

And Shelley Long, if you’re reading this, did you ever have someone tell you that you look like me?