I can’t wiggle my ears. I wasn’t one of the top ten tennis players of my state in high school. I didn’t even play tennis. I have a talent for writing meaningful thank you notes, but that isn’t a winning answer in those awkward minutes at dinner parties or conferences when asked to reveal something unique about myself. I give an answer that does fascinate a crowd but ultimately leaves them feeling sorry for me. It’s a pretty pathetic party trick, but here we go.

I am an oldest, youngest, and only child.

Mom: She neither had children before my birth nor after my birth.

Dad & Step Mom: After my birth, he remarried and they had four boys.

Step Dad #2: Considers me his daughter. He had two daughters before my birth.

Meaning:

I have two older sisters, four younger brothers, but grew up in a house where I was the only child.

And here’s the trick of it. That might make you feel sad, but it makes me feel special. It’s one of the funny, good things that came out of multiple divorces. In writing this, though, a new party trick fact has come to mind. I once won first place in a beauty pageant, not for being the fairest of them all, but for writing the best thank you note to my sponsors.

Yes, I was in a beauty pageant and loved every minute of it. Secret Three, Revealed.