A friend emailed me after last summer’s Democratic National Convention to let me know how much I look like (what was then) the future First Lady. The blog post I wrote about that — titled Do I Look Like Michelle Obama? — garnered many, many replies. Most comments said no. Some weren’t sure what to say –They were afraid that maybe, because I can’t see, I wasn’t aware of one obvious fact that distinguishes me from Michelle. Even last week, comments to a post that had absolutely nothing to do with the Obamas (the post was about our trip to New Orleans) returned to the extremely important ongoing controversy.
For the record, though, I have never thought you look like Michelle Obama. Do people who say that realize that you’re white?!?!?!
My response, of course: “What?! I’m white?!”
And it’s no surprise that one of my four older sisters (it takes that many to put this spoiled baby sister in her place) chimed in right away to point out that I am too old, Michelle is younger than I am. Still, I wanted to believe.
Last week Mike and I went out with a couple of friends for dinner. One of them is a judge in Chicago and a friend of Michelle Obama. What? You didn’t know we hang with friends of the first Family? Dude. That’s how we roll.
Anyway,I’d never told the judge that anyone said I looked like her friend Michelle. If I really did look like the First Lady, though, surely Michelle’s friend would have noticed. But the judge never said a word about any resemblance. And I was seated right across from her. Within eyeshot.
What a disappointment! With all the reports of how classy, sophisticated, lovely, beautiful, stunning Michelle Obama looked during the inauguration last week — more than ever, I really wanted to believe I looked like her. Dang.
But wait! Eyebrows up! There is, to quote the new administration…”hope”! This morning I got an email from a friend in London, he was one of the early nay-sayers, one who felt it necessary to inform me that I am not Black, and so, of course, I could not look like Michelle Obama. His message opened with a review of the decisions President Obama has made so far, a question about which foreign country I think the new President will visit first, that sort of thing. But the message closed with this:
And yes i now do think the wife has a look of the finke about her. Not only the look but the poise. cant explain it but there is an energy to her that you have.
I’m beaming.
PS: Does Michelle beam?
Oh yes, Michelle beams.
And who said people of two different races can’t look alike? It happens. Silly commenters.
Hi Beth. I very much enjoy reading the bits in here about you and our new First Lady being look-alikes. As per the inauguration itself, I listened to it and I thought Barack gave a phenomenal speech! I’d also like to point out something which I don’t think has gotten that much publicity unfortunately. Up until February 2, that’s next Monday so hurry up and go listen to this while you can, there is an audio-described and captioned version of Barack’s A&E biography. The website where it can be heard is http://www.dcmp.org/obama/ , and then click on either the link for members or the link for non-members. The bio is in flash-player format, which I had a bit of trouble with but I did get it going. There are three versions: audio-described only, captioned only, or both. As I eventually found out, the audio descriptions can be heard on the link for captioning. I sent an email about this to the support team, but I don’t know if they’ve fixed the mislabeling issue. The bio and descriptions are quite good though.
Jake, thanks for the info. Word has it that that was the most “disabled friendly” inauguration ever!
And Teej, thanks for confirming: I had a feeling Michelle was a beamer.
I am so proud to be a Finke with such nice comments from London…I need to remember to “beam” more often!
I’d like to jump on that bandwagon with you Jen but Beth did mention that age thing. I’ve decided to use my “poise” and “energy” and to “beam” like Malia and Sasha’s grandma. It must have been a very interesting dinner that you and Mike had with Michelle’s friend. You may have to give your friend your “…Safe and Sound” book to take to the White House the next time she visits her friend Michelle. I know Malia and Sasha would love the book, especially now that they’re about to adopt their own dog. Then your friend will have to take a picture of the President reading the book to the girls before they go to bed. Wow!
We all already knew that “The Look of Finke” is full of poise, energy, and beam. I’m not surprised. Perhaps we really are related to the Obama’s afterall!
Which one of the witches said you were too old? I like that!
But more importantly, Beth, I think someone needs to tell you: Michelle Obama may beam, but Michael Knezovich does not. Sorry.
Hi Beth!
It’s been too long since I’ve last posted.
A lot has happened since then.
Hope everything is going well. *grin*
fWow, so many comments I don’t know where to start. I’m writing from my talking laptop computer here in Urbana, have been here a couple days to give a guest talk at the animal sciences department plus visiting friends. Will keep this short before I lose my wireless connection — quickly wanted to say that I think maybe Mike *is* beaming now at the news of a new Illinois governor…guess I’ll find that out when I return to Chicago this afternoon.
Thanks for all the great comments, everyone!
Siobhan is my eternal nemesis. I used to beam, but that all ended with Nader in 2000. I blame you, Siobhan. Since then I mostly glow. You know, like a nuclear reaction. And sometimes I do beam, just more like a laser death ray. In this way, I look like Barack Obama–right after Biden made the crack about Chief Justic Roberts.
Um, I think that quite a few of Illinoisans are beaming after hearing the great news about the governor!
Sandra
For those who say Mike doesn’t beam; did you see him during the winning White Sox season?? or when that guy caught the ball at the Cubs game? Beam City.
You’re tooooo white to look like the first lady, you racist worthless filth.
Gee. Thanks for the sweet loving comment.
OMG!! I haven’t been able to look at your blog for quite awhile…but your still going on about this?!! Is Dog e Dog your first heckler? He’s a stupid one. I want to be the funny one. Love you, wanna be!
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