Butter & Oil

I don't know how many of you caught this week's SNL with the spoof of Paula Deen.

If not, catch it here: http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/weekend-update-paula-deen/1389907

I thought it was hilarious, even though I do love me some Paula Deen. I want to go to her house and eat ham biscuits and red velvet cake. I confess that, as a diehard NYer, I picture all middle-aged white women from the South looking just like Paula Deen. If you're from the South, and I haven't met your mom, whenever you talk about her, I picture Paula Deen. This is terrible, I know, but I can't help myself.

Part of me wants to be Paula Deen when I grow up, without the diabetes and without the actual cooking part, since I don't want to turn on the stove. I have lived in my apartment for four years without turning it on once and I have a record to maintain.

I hope the allegations of racism and sexual harassment against Ms. Paula aren't true. They sound pretty awful and I would find it very upsetting if proven true. Her food looks mighty good (butter and oil) and I find her personal story to be inspiring. She's flawed and I like that. I also like that Paula has two sons that have followed her into the family business. I don't have children (yet) but I always thought I'd be a good mother to sons, and Paula's wiseacre sons make me laugh. It's rare that men follow their mother's lead into business, but I like how they built the business together and how Paula admits that she couldn't have done it, become Paula Deen, without all of their efforts. I'm not sure what family business my sons would follow me into, since watching television is not a family business that I know of, but give me time and I'm sure I'll think of something.

I recently watched Paula on Oprah's Next Chapter and was riveted by the agoraphobia she suffered from for two decades. Essentially both of her parents died within a short period of time and Paula somehow got it into her head that if she just stayed inside, she could protect herself and her family from additional heartache and loss. So that's what she did. For twenty years. Twenty years people. Somehow hearing that makes me feel reassured and a little less crazy. I could see my controlling self thinking exactly what Paula did, but thankfully I haven't gotten there yet.

Above all, I admire Paula because she's not afraid to pee her pants on national television, which I'm pretty sure she did on this episode of Oprah's Next Chapter. (I can't find a good clip but Google if you're curious.) Getting on the trampoline that she had built for her grandkids, she warned us that she might, her whole staff said she might, and I'm pretty sure she did.

I don't know about you, but from where I sit, getting from being afraid to leave your house for twenty years to not being afraid to pee your pants in front of millions of people while wearing your nightgown is a pretty big leap to me. Now, I'm not endorsing peeing your pants in public, but I found it refreshing, and yes, a little inspiring to see that she was able to face her fears in life and not let them control her. She moved forward and built a life ... a life that includes peeing your pants on Oprah. I'd pee my pants for Oprah. That's good tv.

So whenever I'm feeling like things seem a little daunting and overwhelming, I'll think of Paula and remember that if I just move forward one step at a time, day by day, and keep a sense of humor about yourself, you never know what can lie ahead.

Like an endorsement deal with Depends.