February 3, 1979

27 years ago today, I came into this world fat, bald and angry. I weighed 9 lbs 8 ounces and, according to legend, Dr. Pan said as he pulled me out, "Oh, he's a big one! Wait a minute... no, it's a perfect baby girl!"

I have been far from perfect in my life. But my parents had been trying for a baby for 10 years so I had to be something special in their eyes. I have always tried to live up to their expectations, which has been my pleasure.

Since Feb. 3, 1979, I've lived in over 12 houses (DeAngelis propensity toward the nomadic), endured extreme shyness, begrudgingly gave my sister the "ok" to join our family, kicked my own ass at the most intensive high school in America, became one in a long, proud line of DeAngelis/Pogany headcases (thanks, Mom and Dad), and, as Roxana Maria Hortenzia DeAngelis, had the longest, most ethnic name called out at Vassar graduation. Go ethnics!!!

The first words out of my mouth as a wee babe actually formed a full sentence. In the back seat of my parent's Rabbit down the North Carolina shore, I looked out over the water and blurted "Oh, WOW, in't that nice!" Ditto for life so far.