Thank you all and no, I'm a realist. I know what people get worked up about and I battle against it. As a single woman (no matter what the age) there is stigma. When I met DH (or rather when I was fixed up), he was warned "oh, she has braces". He said he didn't care. I know a lot of people here (Mr. Silver included) are individuals who think beyond that. There are a lot of people who go beyond boundaries and roles but you still get your share of (sorry for the bash here) idiots. Braces test a lot -- in the beginning I felt a lot less feminine and as far as being elegant and stuff, forget it. I had been able to fake it enough before but when you get food stuck in braces, that's pretty much it.

Dunno. I've known a lot of people who have been so worked up over it that it's a "life is over until they're off" thing. I chose to live differently. I've always gone against tradition if tradition is bad and that is what I did here.

So no, I'm not hard on myself but thank you I'm totally goofy. Sometimes it's rewarded and sometimes I'm just a spaz but I'm ok with it.

And indysteel? It will go very ok. It goes by so fast and in the scheme of things it is so minor. The bad thing (I think it's karma) is I have a friend who obsesses over gaps. She obsessed and her debracing was delayed. I didn't obsess and it was delayed a wee bit but now I am half braced...I think it's cause I laughed at her obsession. Really. She and I both realize the fates are now laughing at me