You are so cute and adorable, LL. I think some of those rude, unhelpful comments come from a place of jealousy on their part. It took me awhile to wrap my head around this concept, as I was raised to never say anything unless it was something kind and genuine. But now, I've lived long enough to know that it's true, and it happens frequently with many women.

Because you had the courage to go and do something different---and because you are a doll---and because you are really so likeable and have such a lovely spirit---unfortunately, some people can see it as an opportunity to deliver some spite. I agree with just about everyone who is saying supportive things, and wondering where these nasties get off: IGNORE the negative responses. I used to get *stuff* like this from my sister and stepmother and one hurtful ex-friend. I never understood where they were coming from, or what I had done to deserve their snotty comments. I thought they cared for me.

But they apparently saw me as some kind of threat, a person to be 'taken down a peg'. That caused me some confusion for a bit, too, until I realized this was becoming their standard pattern of behaviour, and that they had morphed into some REALLY un-kind people over time.

It got easier and easier to ignore them, with practice. It was their problem, not mine!