Mirrors

I seriously try to avoid looking in the mirror these days. I'm not just catering to my aversion to my too big body. I have reached that point that my mother reached - who is that old lady in the mirror? Well, maybe it isn't that bad, but I can't stand to see the wrinkles and craggy lines in my face. My products aren't working as well as I hoped. Where is the "airbrush in a bottle?" That's what I need. I've seen these ads for some kind of mineral face powder - better than going bare or something like that. I don't wear makeup - never have. But I feel the need to cover these damn crags in my face! I saw a new Cover Girl liquid makeup product with Oil of Olay anti-wrinkle potion in it. I went to the store and looked at it, but couldn't figure out what shade to get and didn't want to waste the money on something that would look ridiculous on my skin. Lotion and more regenerating serum is what I need.

OK, so mirrors are not a true reflection of what we look like to others. Did you know that? Something about the reverse image, but what we see in the mirror is not what others see. Have you ever seen the 1/2 and 1/2 images? One side of your face actually looks different from the other. So depending on which side of your face you are featuring, your image looks different. Reversing it in the mirror gives you an incorrect image. I saw this invention of like 5 different mirrors that when the reflections are done right, give you the actual image that is how others see you. I'm not sure I am ready for that unless I can get these wrinkles under control.

I've always thought it strange that our eyes are such intricate organs and can do so much, but the one thing they can't do is gaze upon the being that houses them. I think there is wisdom in that. We pay way too much attention to image and how we look to others. Fashion week coverage demonstrates that. It's not that I don't care how I look, obviously I do. But I want to please myself, not some committee of fashionistas. Although some days I disappoint myself - I look a little ragged as I leave my house. But then I just write it off to midlife free pass and go about my business.

Yes, the midlife free pass is my invention that says, because I am in midlife, I get a free pass on days when I don't have the time, energy, or discipline to look fabulous. I have earned this pass because of my sage experiences and my senior-ish position in society. My wisdom and seniority allow me to be taken seriously and I am afforded the respect I deserve, even if my outward appearance may be disheveled or baggy-eyed. That's my rule and I am sticking to it. Mirrors be damned.

"Single Women Over 50...

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skin care products

Whoa. I have been cruising the skin care aisles looking for products that will work with my skin. I believe that women our age are definitely being targeted. I'm surprised they don't employ barkers to hawk this stuff. I just wanted to find a facial moisturizer that would do a little something to even my skin tone, blend away wrinkles, and "brighten" my skin. I saw that in an ad. I am not sure what that means, but "bright" sounds young, doesn't it? I went to Target, CVS, the supergrocery, Walgreens, etc. I found the land of Olay - where I can spend big $ on very scientific sounding dermatological tested ingredients that promise to lift skin, remove wrinkles, and make me look like Christie Brinkley - well not really, but she is my hero.

I used to use a Ponds anti-aging towlette. $5 and did a nice job getting rid of the wrinkles. After a few years, my skin began to get more sensitive - not really dry, but sensitive. I can still break out if I put something goopy on my face. My mother told me that breakouts and blemishes would be gone by the time I was 19. She was waaaaay wrong. So I looked for something else and came upon a L'Oreal product called Age Perfect for Mature Skin. I was sure this was for the nursing home crowd or at least the Mah Jong League. But they had a nice cream based cleanser with "micro-beads" to gently exfoliate. It sounds like a spa treatment, so I went for it. Oh, and the price is right - $8. I love it. I guess my skin is mature. Cleanses, exfoliates, wrinkles be gone, and does not dry the skin.

One day I noticed my forearm and wrist. It looked like my skin was bunching up and hanging. WTF? It almost looked paper-y. You know what I mean - old lady skin. AAAAACCCCCKKKK! Back to the store to see if there was a firming body lotion that would regenerate my skin's youthfulness, elasticity, firmness, and make me look like I am not an old lady.

Luckily, I found a wonderful product - made by Vaseline. It comes in a lavender pump bottle and does wonderful things for my skin - including banishing that aging, saggy look. The only quibble I have is that it smells like tea when you put it on. The price you pay for beauty, but it won't break the bank. A large pump dispenser is about $6. I want to look fabulous, but I am only willing to lay out so much cash.

Next, I am going to tackle the puffy bags that are under my eyes. They must be banished!

Who am I?

I am having a blast. I reached the big 50 and it doesn't matter. I have done more since I was 45 than I did before reaching that age. I have read endless accounts of women who say the same thing. There's a reason they call it 50 and Fabulous.

Now the younger ladies may believe this is all a way to live in denial. I thought that when I was younger, absolutely dreading the march of time. But you know, life is what you make it. I love to have fun and so whatever age I am, that's what I do.

I am sharp, dynamic, reasonably attractive, very aware of the world around me, engaged with people and events, and committed to the things I believe in. I am a teacher, a mentor to an elementary school student, an activist, member of several nonprofit boards, politically active, sexually active, culturally aware, and boast a bevy of committed friends, colleagues, and a network around the country. It's all good.

I wanted to write a blog just for us gals over 50 who have a lot of life and don't act our age. I am not a cougar, because I am not a predator. I am not promiscuous, but I am a flirt. I am, however, writing this blog with a nom de plum - it's the only way to be really truthful without putting other people's privacy in jeopardy.

I keep it real, keep it fun, and hope you enjoy my musings.