By our slightly disgruntled Jeffrey Dunn
I wonder how it is that the thought of seeing someone age has become something we pretend we don’t see at all. Skimming through friends current photos on Facebook , I can’t help but notice how much they have all changed and, well, how old most everyone looks. Obviously I am not firing off messages telling everyone how old they look or how much they now resemble their parents, but God, I want to. Not out of cruelty , mind you, but just because our 18 year old selves would have a good laugh (or cry) knowing we have become exactly what we promised we wouldn’t.
When I want to commiserate about our multiplying crows feet, my friends seem insulted if I even suggest that they have crows feet when they are clearly visible to the naked eye,(and from a distance for that matter). They will also famously say “I have always had thin hair” , rather than admit we are losing our hair as quickly as we are losing our handle on our youth. Every wrinkle on their faces may as well be my own aging skin taunting me (as if I don’t get it enough every morning in the bathroom mirror). Instead of always saying “you look great” and “you don’t have any wrinkles” can’t we just address the elephant in the room and realize it only gets worse from here on out?
Yes, we are smarter and more “centered”, but I will probably never get my butt back and that’s kind of funny?
I was looking at photos of me from my vacation a couple months ago and I couldn’t help but wonder when my face permanently started looking that way. I mean, I can understand a random shot when I am tired but this new face was in every shot. My mother was right, make that face enough times and it will stay that way… forever.
I found myself walking through the skin care aisles with glazed over wrinkly eyes looking for some miracle product to fix me in 28 days or my money back. I was waiting for a sales girl to say “You are much too young for that kind of cream” but sadly, that never happened. I am embracing the next chapter in my skin’s life and I settled on a retinol product for the fine lines and a lightening serum with glucosamine to erase decades in the sun. Olay Professional :
Wrinkle Smoothing Cream 41.99
Discoloration Fighting Concentrate 41.99
Deep Wrinkle Treatment. 41.99
I will let you know how it goes.
FEEL THE BURN—NOT NECESSARILY
BRIDGING EXPECTATIONS
A UNIQUE BALANCE
THE HAIR ON MY CHINNY-CHIN-CHIN
I am 50 and I have this silly delusion that I look the same as I looked at 40 or 35. But it works as long as I don’t spy my reflection in a store window or peer into a mirror.
I have had several people tell me on Facebook that I haven’t changed since college (1971) or high school (1967)- I must have been quite a haggard teenager. One thing I learn recently – get your eyebrows done. I does not erase the wrinkles but it opens up your eyes. And if you have been doing it incorrectly which is either aging or comical that can be corrected.
Hi, Suzanne!
Do you remember me (your neighbor from Cimmaron Ponds?) You are very memorable to me. I enjoyed seeing you bop around in your BMW convertible and it seems you are still doing some of the same.
Mike and I are doing fine. He has a job where he travels about three weeks out of the month. He has an apartment in Shanghai and travels mostly in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Thailand and Australia. We live in Plymouth in a townhome. Our daughters, Erin and Shannon are doing fine, as well. Shannon is married and splits her time between here, Duluth and Madeline Island. She got married last summer on Madeline Island (where she spends the summer.) She and her husband teach – he in Duluth and she in Eden Prairie. Hopefully, in the fall, they will be in the same city.
Erin lives in Corcoran with her boyfriend. She has had many issues, however seems to be hanging tough so far now. How is Scott?
Do you ever talk to Bob Larson?
Love your website!
Take care!
Sincerely,
Glenda Murphy
I cannot find where to register (to be able to log on) as a new user and I can’t find where to access “products”. I click on “products” and it doesn’t take me anywhere. -Sharon
So, just coincidentally, last night was our Fabulous Women Over Fifty dinner party in St. Paul where five of the most interesting, intelligent, bust-your-gut-funny-why-are-our-boobs-so-low women, all professional writers of one sort or another, met and celebrated all that you present on your website. Woke up this morning, opened the paper, and there you were. Would love to have you join us.
- Beth Frost-Johnson
I love this article!!! I am not sure when it occurred – but I do recall waking up one day and looking in the mirror and wondering what had gone wrong. I scurried off to the nearest Target and loaded my cart with desparate attempts to save my aging soul. First, the fitness section. I bought a yoga mat, thigh master, weights, and I believe a series of video tapes. Off to the beauty section; hair color, teeth whitener, and every product ever made by Oil of Olay. Without realizing what I had done, I took my cart to the checkout, where a thin, adorable 16 year old would check me out. I looked at her. I looked at my cart. “Yes, this is a desparate attempt to reclaim my youth!”
Beth – we would love to join you! Give us a little more information and when do you meet?
Jean and Suzanne
Just wanted to say HELLO to Jean. I miss the condo and watching the sunsets and the Dolphins swimming by.
Shirley – glad you are going to our website! I miss the condo also. Tell me what you are doing these days. Job, etc. Have you heard from Barbara? We are getting ready to sell t-shirts, etc on our website. They make great gifts – keep in touch. think about you often. Home all is well
jk