Interesting that I struggled to write positively here about my body, yet initially posted this with a negative in the title, and a protective attitude, assuming that "boys" would not understand, would possibly make fun of my feelings.  And it took me two days to notice that I did that.  So I fixed the post.  Never mind about boys.  Here's some stuff I like about me.

 I was reading a collection of essays, "Minding the Body" -- lots of wonderfully written pieces by many excellent women writers, some of them sharing pain about how they feel about their bodies, some of the celebrating getting over the pain they feel about their bodies.  Open, touching, wonderful writing.  But all the sudden I thought:  Enough. I want to share some celebrating, pure straight on celebrating.  Not about how brave we are, or so accepting in spite of, or what wonderful characters we have.  Just:  what do you like about your body?  So I thought, well, I'll do it myself.  And damn, it's hard!  First off, I want to go into detail about all the ways I've felt bad, from inside, from outside -- sort of establish my pain cred.  And then when I start to think what I flat out like about my body, I keep wanting to add little modifying additions:  "but" "still" "even though."  But I'm being firm.  No modifiers!  Here's my list.  I'd love to see other women's lists.

*** I like my hair.  It's curly and forgiving, so my husband cuts it and when I get out of the shower, I run my hands through it and I'm done.  And I like the way it's turning color; it's white, first a blaze from my forehead, and now interesting wings of white on the sides.

***  I like my reproductive system:  41 years ago, when I had my first child, looking at his wonderful unbelievable otherness,  I thought (I really did have this exact thought) "My body works right!"  Two splendid children -- good for me!

*** I like my fingers.  Typing, stroking, stirring -- they work wonderfully, and they look so useful.

*** I like the way my skin welcomes heat: sun, hot tubs, very hot showers, all give me such pleasure.  (Okay, one modifier:  I lost this for awhile during menopause, but I'm so glad it's back.)

*** I like the way my face is wrinkling.  I think I'm going to be one of those cheerful, round faced, wrinkled apple old ladies.

*** I like my nipples, that still get hard when  something interesting is happening -- or even when I think about something interesting happening.

*** And I like my laugh, which is loud and cheerful.  But here I think I'm getting into personality traits, and that's a whole 'nother kettle of fishwives.

I hope someone reads this, and thinks about one part of her body she really, privately likes, and feels a little better today.