Most of my life, I’ve been known for being WAY too serious. I’ve been notorious among ex-boyfriends and ex-husbands (of which there is only one) for never getting the punchline of jokes. I always said things like, “Huh? I don’t get that.” To which they would usually shake their heads and say,”Lighten up!!” If I had $18 for everytime I’ve been told to lighten up, I’m sure I’d have about $18,000 right about now.
So, it’s IRONICALLY BEAUTIFUL that I just found out this morning that not only have I won a Florida Press Association award for column-writing … but I won the award for a HUMOR column of all things!!
The only downside is that the humor column really wasn’t supposed to be funny at all — it’s a tragic look at the seedy underbelly (and I mean that literally) of my fight with the flab!
The column that won is called Ben and Jerry Take a Hike! So you can imagine what it’s about. But if you want to read it — you can get a peek into my physically psyched-out psyche by double-clicking on this link: Ben & Jerry Take a Hike and win MC a Big Award! (Hey, that makes the Michelin-esque aspects of my physique almost worth it! — notice I said ALMOST!)
Look out! Michelin-woman coming through!
I’m super happy about winning — I’ve wanted to nab one of those FPA awards since I launched the Reality Chick column back in early 2006. And, I’m grateful as well … to the editors at the Pelican Press, Rachel Brown Hackney and Anne Johnson, who are the ones responsible for entering me into the FPA contest in the first place. And speaking of the Pelican Press — I heard the paper won something like seven or eight OTHER awards from the Florida Press Association. So kudos all ’round to the editors and writers at that paper.
The FPA gives awards at four levels, I think. First, Second, Third, and Honorable Mention. I won’t know until July, I think, what actual PLACE the column won, but heck, it’s already been announced on their site, and I’m happy with any place whatsoever!
Now, um, where the HECK did I put my sneakers?!
Kelly
April 24, 2009 at 1:25 pmCongratulations, MC!!! Love the column. And Michelin tires or no, you are stunningly beautiful, inside and out. And hey, I LIKE your sense of humor! (Maybe that says more about me.) Keep up the wonderful writing and the health-consciousness, but take it easy on yourself.
MC
April 24, 2009 at 1:36 pmRoger that, Kelly! I am planning to take it super easy on myself by celebrating with copious amounts of Cosmo martinis tonight — calories be damned!
Bernard P. Friel
April 24, 2009 at 1:37 pmCongratulations !!! And thanks for letting us know. And our congratulations to The Pelican Press too…our favorite Florida newspaper.
Bernie and Damaris Friel
MC
April 24, 2009 at 1:45 pmTo the Friels — Yup, the Pelican is a fab paper … I miss being in it! Thanks for your kind congrats!
Susan M. Kinsella
April 24, 2009 at 2:16 pmMary Catherine… You are my inspiration for believing in what I know to be true for myself. I tell your story to everyone I can make listen.
Part of what makes you so enjoyable to read is that you tackle tough topics with that soupcon of humor that makes us all feel you know exactly what we are experiencing.
Congratulations! Do they give Pulitzers for column writing?
MC
April 24, 2009 at 2:40 pmOh, what a nice note, Susan! They DO give Pulitzers for column-writing!!
what’s wrong with dreaming big?!
thanks for taking the time to read the blog and to jot a note. hope all is well in Beantown!
Dick Dickinson
April 24, 2009 at 3:00 pmWay to go! Atta Girl! Dick
MC
April 24, 2009 at 3:08 pmOh, thanks!! for reading and for commenting!
Kerry Kirschner
April 24, 2009 at 3:23 pmMC You have to start somewhere, before the Pulitzer, and then the Nobel for literature. All of us like to watch your meteoric rise as the rest of us dissolve into worldwide obscurity! Kepp up the good work!!!!
MC
April 24, 2009 at 3:28 pmWell, since you’re one of the first who took the time to encourage me as a writer when I first arrived on the scene several years ago … I know who I’ll be thanking when I’m up on the stage in Stockholm! 😉 (okay, now I really AM dreaming!)
Thanks for reading, and taking the time to jot a note — much appreciated!
Theresa Loder
April 24, 2009 at 3:59 pmHi MC,
You stayed true to yourself and who you are and are reaping the rewards of hard work. Along the way you have been a great inspiration to me as well as a great friend. This is only the beginning of great things to come for you.
Wonderful news for the “Pelican Press” . A great paper . I still read it online.
Now on to read your column. I know it’s gonna be good.
Take care
Theresa
John MacKay
April 24, 2009 at 4:18 pmMC, Way to go. I knew you had the right stuff. I don’t read many columnist’s all the way through. But I do read yours all the way through. Keep it up! Today Florida, Tomorrow the Universe, as they say.
John Gary
April 24, 2009 at 5:51 pmI’m a pretty serious guy with what I believe to be an cutting edge sense of humor. Maybe that’s why I like your columns so much. Congratulations on this recognition of your talents. There will be many more,I assure you.
John
MC
April 24, 2009 at 6:10 pmOh, goodness! I really REALLY don’t want to sound corny, but all these messages are making me feel even more wonderful than the award itself. Being read “straight through” is a columnist’s dream! And for a serious guy to like my humor is any woman’s dream! Thanks so much for reading the blog … and for taking the time to jot a note. SO very much appreciated. Now, off to martini-shaker! 😉
Howard G
April 24, 2009 at 7:24 pmHey Mary Catherine,
As we say in my home state of Nebraska: Mazel tov!! It’s always gratifying to see good things happen to good people.
By the way, I find it interesting that you used the number 18 in your article. As you may know, in the hebrew alphabet, 18 is the total of the numbers that correspond to the characters that comprise the word, chai, which means life.
Make sure you have a designated driver for your celebration tonight. 😉
John W. Perkins
April 24, 2009 at 7:26 pmUmm, will you marry me ?
NANCY
April 24, 2009 at 9:28 pmMC: I REMEBER YOUR FIRST COLUMN. I WAS AMAZED THAT THE PELICAN PRESS WOULD HAVE ONE SUCH AS YOU WRITING SUCH INTELLIGENT THOUGHTS. I CONTINUED TO BE AMAZED AND SO VERY HAPPY TO LOOK FOR YOUR COLUMN EACH WEEK. AND THEN, THE END. I MISS LOOKING FOR YOU OR SOMEONE OF YOUR CALIBRE EACH WEEK BUT, ALAS, NO ONE HAS TAKEN YOUR PLACE. I HAVE NOT READ A TRULY THOGHTFUL AND/OR INSPIRING WORD SINCE YOUR LAST COLUMN. NOONE HAS TAKEN YOUR PLACE.
I AM HAPPY FOR YOU AND THOSE WHO ARE PROUD OF YOU. I AM NOT HAPPY FOR THOSE OF US WHO MISS YOUR WIT AND INTELLIGENCE.
COME BACK! YOU ARE NEEDED ON SIESTA KEY!
Steve
April 25, 2009 at 5:49 amNo surprise on you winning anything for your writing MC.Congrats once again and I always appreciate your humorous slant on the many topics you discuss here on this blog.
Steve
April 25, 2009 at 7:55 amPerkins she won’t even go out with you let alone marry you..Go ask Boomerang to marry you:-)
MC
April 25, 2009 at 7:57 amHoward G — I THOUGHT I pulled that # 18 out of random nothingness. Thanks for telling me it wasn’t so random; had no idea!
John — absolutely. I’m catching a plane to Vegas at 3; will be at the Elvis chapel by, um, 7 pm west coast time?
Nancy — thanks so much for your VERY kind words. I miss that weekly column in the Pelican very much, mostly because it allowed me to interact with readers … like you! Thanks for reading the blog and for posting a comment. Much appreciated!
Theresa — thanks for reading and for finding my work inspirational — that’s awfully sweet of you to say.
And, Stevie, my boy — well, you’re one of the most faithful readers and blog comment-makers a blogger could ever hope for. Thanks big time!
Geoff Sander
April 25, 2009 at 9:40 amCongrats M.C. on your award recognition.
Confused tho, I recall your picture in the Pelican Press as being a slim and tall woman? Am I incorrect on that thought? Or did the Ben & Jerry’s of which you wrote alter that image?
Either way, congrats to you and I still miss your column in the Pelican Press.
Good luck with all future writings.
Geoff
MC
April 25, 2009 at 9:50 amGeoff — well, the photo in the Pelican was just a head shot, so not sure how tall I could have looked! Not sure if I’m tall or not — 5’6″ — probably tall to some and short to others! The Ben & Jerry story is really more of a humor piece than straight reality, though, it’s true enough — some days my attempts to be healthy seem more like comedy or is it tragedy than they do anything else. But in truth, I’m not substantially any more huge or any more less huge as I was when the column was running … I’ve posted very recent photos on this blog site, so you can judge for yourself!!
The column was written because it just seems like when ten years ago I could drop weight at the drop of a hat … now it’s like WORK to just maintain! Thanks for reading and for taking the time to jot a note!
Keith Kropp and Wayne Rogers
April 25, 2009 at 12:15 pmHi MC!
Congratulations!!! We are in town this weekend and coming back next weekend for the Chalk Festival on Pineapple. Maybe we will see you there. Still would like to take you to lunch at the Citrus Cafe. We are going to see Embracing our Differences on the bayfront today. Again, Congratulations!
Wayne & Keith
MC
April 25, 2009 at 12:23 pmEnjoy Embracing Our Differences! Would love to do lunch sometime when you’re in town at Citrus — have never been there. I can’t do next weekend, but the rest of May, June, and July are looking WIDE open! Thanks so much for dropping a note here!
siestasurfer
April 25, 2009 at 1:58 pmCongratulations !
MC
April 25, 2009 at 2:01 pmThanks, Siesta Surfer!
Andy
April 25, 2009 at 10:19 pmCongrats Mary Catherine. Much deserved.
Emily
April 25, 2009 at 11:17 pmCongratulations! I love your writing; a mixture of (much needed) wit and spot on social commentary.
Linkage: News from around the Suncoast in five clicks or less | the 941
April 27, 2009 at 7:52 am[…] MC Coolidge brings some big news: She’s won an award from the Florida Press Association for humor writing. […]
John Dowd
April 27, 2009 at 4:34 pmWay to go, MC! But all of us who read your blog know what a great writer you are–congratulations!
MC
April 27, 2009 at 4:41 pmJohn Dowd — thanks for such a nice note — and even bigger thanks for reading the blog!!
Janice Russo
April 27, 2009 at 7:49 pmWay to go, MC!That award was long overdue. I’ve always thought your sense of humor was right on. I also enjoyed your recent guest column in the Herald Tribune. It’s always great to see you in print!
MC
April 27, 2009 at 7:58 pmJanice — thanks for your very nice note! I’m glad you liked the column today too!
Carolyn
April 27, 2009 at 9:39 pmCongratulations MC!! I loved that column when I read it the first time and its just as good the second time around!! The award is long overdue though, but hey, better late to the party than never even showing up I say. Besides, that way you can make a smashing entrance with all eyes on you!! :o)
MC
April 27, 2009 at 9:59 pmoh, thanks for such a sweet comment!
Theresa Rose
May 7, 2009 at 12:40 pmI would like to add to the dozens of other well-wishers and say, ROCK ON, SISTA!!!!! You totally deserve it, Column Diva.
Hugs,
Theresa