Ellie Embossed: A Novel Memoir

Ellie forgives her mother. It’s not her fault. Only a postpartum brain fart could have influenced such a ridiculous name for a baby. Her mother was proud of her unique creation, but a name that inspires visions of little old ladies in compression stockings is nothing to brag about. Ellie’s only comfort as a child was knowing that at least people couldn’t accuse her of naming herself. Still, it would have been nicer to have a name more suited to a little girl who spent her childhood trying to acquire a cat and avoiding sports at all costs. As a wife and mother of five, Ellie is all too aware of how a mother’s best intentions can explode like an overstuffed diaper. She strives to do more and be more for her family, but sometimes she feels like her talents are limited to eating too much chocolate and driving a minivan in her bathrobe. She wonders if something is missing, and if it is, how will she ever find it. Successful women have balance, but her scale is askew.