Prerogative

My career would not be what it is today without the powerfully phenomenal agency of Monsieur Jon Toddy! Not only has he championed me and my book, Fifi La Grange: The Road to Fabulous! from the moment he beheld its whimsical, metaphorical cover, but also he frequently, everlastingly reminisces with me about the numerous blessings he has bestowed upon me, with his influence and notoriety. He has shared his delightful, persistent insight on my lucrative creative projects; be it my fashion line, including my upcoming shoe line, future books, acting jobs, etcetera, etcetra!; and at each and every turn of my career. I’m dutifully compelled to impart any minute particle of my existence to him, so that he may disseminate all among my legions of my fervent fans, as only he sees fit. Why, he alone is responsible for the “Save Fifi” movement! Eager to have me back under his vigilant guidance, he searched, and searched, and searched until he found me! While his stern, caring reaction to my sudden extended holiday may make him appear to some, implacable, I know the truth. With John Toddy standing behind me, what can I say? Somehow, “merci”, doesn’t seem quite adequate!

Havens

I popped in to a darling Chelsea “hybrid” Dunkin’ Donuts/ Baskin Robbins Ice Cream shop one day to refresh myself with a Jamoca Almond Fudge glace. The seething summer day and the crushing throng overwhelmed me. The Donut Lady, (DL), witnessing my distress, invited me to share her table. I spontaneously liked her grounded nature, and her ironic, candid sense of humor. Her steadfast conviction in the goodness of humanity has constantly kept my cynicism at bay. We’ve shared a fiercely loyal friendship ever since.

While lunching in my favorite neighborhood diner, I observed Effie, the center of attention in a ladies’ afternoon fete, proudly displaying her magnificent gemstone ring collection. I adored her sincere child-like enthusiasm and her use of her jewels as pure self-expression. As her envious rivals sulked away, I declared my utter enchantment with her exquisite, extravagant collection, and her canny ability to obtain such treasures at a mere fraction of the appraised values! We’ve shared countless afternoons since viewing ShopTV; appreciating stunning, well-crafted items that have been value-priced! I am ever transported by her beguiled nature and her abiding love for me.

Neither will ever admit their mutual affection, although I sensed it from the moment I introduced them at high tea, au Payard Patisserie. My Yin and Yang, I love mes amies as no others; my bond with them has transcended our collective struggles and my meteoric rise to fame. I trust them fully with my life.

Empyreal Radiance

I discovered the sheer force of my spirituality during the waning days of my marriage, when I realized a hand much larger than my own was guiding me towards a destiny I couldn’t yet fully comprehend. Compelled, I scoured countless sources - books, websites, shamans, and sages, searching for confirmation that my life was truly purposeful. If only an angel lighted in my life and provided me with the perfect answers, mais non! It was an arduous process, my loves! I knew with absolute certainty that my place was in the creative realm; concurrently, I perceived that I was merely a singular aspect of a much larger megacosm. Regardless of these truths, I at times felt as if I existed in my own void. Time and again I turned to my inner voice, my very essence, for guidance and reassurance. The denouement of my abiding mystical quest - a sublime revelation: my connection to everyone, everything, the sum of which being a singular divine provenance. To realize the inner – connectedness of every existing particle on earth filled me with comfort. I finally realized with complete certainty that I was not alone! I serenely meandered through the Great Gotham, marveling in my spiritual oneness with each tiny pebble, towering edifice, and being, (of which there are multitudes!), surrounding me. At last, faithfully, joyfully recognizing that we are all a part of the same divine light enabled me to celebrate the best and endure the worst of my life. It has provided me with an absolute tensile strength of spirit, bolstering me during my most dire and daunting days. No matter what could come to pass, I would forevermore possess the strength to carry on!

My Emergence

When I was a little girl. I practiced writing Fifi thousands of times, I’m sure, instead of listening to my insecure first grade teacher. During this same crucial period, I, inspired by La Muppet Fantastique Miss Piggy, began to employ Francais in my daily discourse. Always a source of sheer joy and entertainment for me, it made my young world shimmer with magical, regal flair; I felt like royalty!

Granger, a proud family surname in itself, unfortunately made le nom Fifi sound like I should be standing on a street corner! I discovered that with un peu of my beloved French influence, La Grange was perfection for rounding out a designation that was as brilliant as my potential. It was my proudest accomplishment in my sixth year of life!

Although the genesis of Fifi started when I was a richly creative child, I only became Fifi après divorce. You see, darlings, in my former days as a trophy wife I had convinced myself that my financial advantage was what made me la Fabulous. Living in a guilded cage was tres costly, my loves! My husband, a very successful businessman, dictated that I exist as his version of myself. I burst forth from this unhappy, constricting world, in spite of my overriding doubt in my ability to support myself. Upon relocating to the Great Gotham, I realized I needed to live on a much larger scale than Fanny Granger could allow. In the midst of my dwindling economic status and mounting anxiety, I never allowed bitterness to be an option. I called upon my inner strength; banished my trophy wife hairstyle, and voila! Fifi La Grange emerged! With my new identity complete I could almost feel the heat emanating from the bright shining lights illuminating my way. My premier Fifi-ism, the Fabutant’s Golden Rule was born: “Everlastingly feel so Fabulous about myself, as if I’m perpetually walking down the Red Carpet”. What joy! I was indeed on the road to Fabulous!

Fabulous, Predetermined

Salut, mes amies! I'm beside myself with joy that you've joined me, blogging about my Road to Fabulous! I grew up, ne Fanny Granger, in an Ohio suburban community that even according to Wikipedia, has had the dubious distinction of being "The World's Largest Community of Brick Homes". Ma mere, a rural-born beauty of ambitious, glamorous taste, (and my premier mentor of haute vogue), found herself standing at the base of La Tour Eiffel in Paris, France, when she was twenty six. While attending a world convention there, she unintentionally broke the hearts of several young Frenchmen due to her inimitable class and poise.

Papa, a former WWII ace pilot, exuded a hero's charisma that often caused people to mistake him for a movie star. During his Paris holiday, Papa was marveling at Notre Dame's magnificence when he caught sight of Mama, fashionably exiting the Cathedral's massive gothic doors. Their eyes met, et voila! The angels began to sing!

So you see, I had a blueprint for my road to Fabulous from le very start!

But my darling Fabutantes, it has been paved with perilous pitfalls; ranging from petite income, loneliness, unemployment, and fear, fear, fear! Mon Dieu! It sounds so dire, doesn't it darlings? Striving to overcome my challenges allowed me to choose what type of person I've wanted to be. That's when I discovered that I could truly be fabulous, regardless of my circumstances. Vive la Fifi et vive la vie!