Modeling Maude Evelyn Marie Torsher

As a child, I worried about everything. Things that most kids enjoyed like school, roller coasters and junk food made me nervous and uncomfortable. I became used to having a persistent stomach ache; I was always anxious and reluctant to try anything. Consequently, I felt perpetually sure that whatever was around the next corner would be tragic and scary.

My parents, known for their readiness and optimism, refused to let my hesitations hold me back. They pushed me to try new things while supporting me despite my tearful objections. Though few things could comfort me in my loneliness and apprehension, most nights I would be found safety curled up with them, watching a movie. We watched everything from documentaries to cartoons, The Godfather to Airplane!. I normally viewed these gatherings as an escape, but one film truly touched me: Harold and Maude.

While I sought to survive in a family where living life to the fullest was the cardinal rule, I watched Harold struggle to fit in with a family of wealthy socialites. I empathized with his somber acts of rebellion in response to his mother’s insistence that he conform. Harold was a loner, and I could identify with him.

Soon, Harold and I met Maude. Maude’s outlook, that every day is...