Tuesday, December 13, 2011

This is Me

Last weekend The Hubby's office had its annual holiday party. The theme was "Mad Men," and we were asked to dress appropriately.

I had my local beauty salon do a French Twist, and they helped me with my eyeliner. (How did women in the 1950s and '60s get those "cat tails" to come out even?

Anyhow, I liked the hairdo so much, I swiped an earring off my jewelry-bedecked branches arrangement and slapped it on to take these photos:


My twin reactions were "Yikes" and Wow."


The wrinkles and the silvery hair actually didn't make me flinch. I've lived with them so long, they weren't a surprise. But yikes, where did my top lip go? It used to be so full. And my jawline! *Sigh*. Once it was chiseled; now it's softened. And my skin...where did all those spots come from?

On the other hand...


This is me. This is what 57- almost-58 looks like. I thank my genes for what I have, and I thank my mother and her mother for teaching me that true beauty is ageless, a quality that shines from the inside out.


And I think of one of my favorite quotes, by the American essayist poet Raph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882):

"As we get old...the beauty steals inward."


16 comments:

  1. My first thought was wow. No yikes at all. Honestly, you're stunning.

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  2. I agree with Alana -- looking good, Sis! (and nice perspectives expressed).
    xoxo

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  3. I think you're pretty cute, but who asks my opinion....

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  4. You look AMAZING! I love the up-do, it really suits you! The leopard stole is pretty fun & sexy too!

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  5. You are a regal beauty! Just so gorgeous, and I you're a beauty on the inside too!

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  6. ... that was supposed to say... and I BET you're a beauty on the inside too!

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  7. You are so amazingly beautiful...I can only hope I look this good one day...truly a gorgeous woman....

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  8. I found this post through a photo link on Pinterest. Just wanted to let you know how gorgeous your hair is; it is truly inspirational to me. I am letting my hair grow out, fully gray, with bangs. I hope to reproduce your lovely up-do in about a year!

    Thanks for sharing your beauty here.

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    1. Awww! You are sweet for saying so. I hope you love love love having "authentic" hair as much as I do. And thanks for reading my blog!

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  9. Me too, found it on Pinterest just a few minutes ago, and my reaction was "Wow!" What an amazing looking woman! I even commented under the pin that maybe I'd stop dying my hair, as you look so very peaceful and happy. :) I certainly have the length to pull this off.

    Blessings!

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  10. Just repinned you on Pinterest under my 'elegance' section. What an inspiration! Would love to see more of your style! xx

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  11. My God!! What an elegant beauty you are! One of the most adorable images I have ever seen.

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  12. There is someone using this image as their own profile picture on face book. You can find them under Mary Evans, Shasta County, CA

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