The story goes: “Come on, I’ll take you to lunch.” I was surprised my mom was so proud of me just for graduating 6th grade. We went to Francine’s in Westwood where they had chrome and cane-backed chairs, lots of ferns, and this picture. My mom was the only woman in the place who didn’t look like Mary Richards because of her golden curly hair. She’s smiling at me in a ‘special’ way that seems like something’s up. “Sooo, you’re almost a teenager, almost a woman…” and she gently takes both my hands from across the table. We go on to discuss my first period, when it’s okay to shave my legs, and why it’s time to start wearing deodorant. But she’s still smiling so I’m not really that embarrassed, and I’m surprised by how much she seems to love me. Mary waitress comes to take our order. I’ll have some kind of 70s sandwich with sprouts and avocado, because as mom also told me, now’s the time to start thinking about my weight.