Monday, May 22, 2017

A Wrinkle In Time

Recently I was face timing my daughter and the whole time we were talking I was extremely distracted by the lines in my neck. Raise your hand if you know what I'm talking about.

You're not 20 are you?

You're probably not even 40 because I know at 40 my neck was still smooth as silk. I'm something more than a decade beyond 40, but I know these lines weren't there last year. It's like you go to sleep one night, wake up in the morning, and aaagh! What happened?

Face time is all about seeing the person you're speaking to, but you're also looking in a mirror as you talk. I'm not one of those women who fight getting older to a ridiculous degree, and I think I'm pretty good at celebrating the age I am...still that doesn't mean mean I love everything about it.

I might have made a list and those lines on my neck are at the top, but there's more.

I don't like my picture taken without warning. It's all about angles and holding the chin up, lipstick applied, not standing sideways, does my hair look reasonable...

Speaking of hair, I can't just throw my hair up in a ponytail and go anywhere other than for a workout. Even then it's gotta be brushed and smoothed and neat. Messy hair on my daughters somehow still looks adorable. Messy hair on moi just looks messy. Also a little crazy.

I can't see without my glasses. This is one of the more distressing parts of aging and nothing makes me feel old quite like my eyes. I know I'm not old, but declining eyesight is a constant reminder that I'm not young either.

I don't leap out of bed in the morning. I kind of slink which sounds ooh la la, but trust me it's not. Getting out of bed in the morning never used to require a brain. These days I need to take inventory. Unfold one leg at a time, put one foot on the floor and test the waters, generally make sure everything is working before any forward motion occurs.

I've never worn a lot of makeup but sometime in the last couple of years I realized I need lips and eyelashes so I don't leave home without them. If you saw me ten years ago sans makeup you'd think I was fresh faced.

What's the opposite of fresh faced? Yeah.

If I want to remember something I write it down. Anything-to buy, to do, to quote, to look into further, you name it I write it down. If it doesn't get written down it's like it never existed.

I love a good nap, and I'm going to be a Nana.

Wait wait wait! Those aren't negatives! Come to think of it, what's the big deal about a few lines in your neck when there's a grandbaby in your arms?

God sure knew what He was doing, didn't He?

21 comments:

  1. I enjoyed this...and oh soo true. HOWEVER (not to be a downer) if you think the 50's are somewhat of a problem, then let me tell you the 60's are DEFINITELY worse, lol. At 62 now the "age spots" on my hands have increased and they are beginning to look more and more like my mom's. And while my skin is pretty good for a gal in her 60's thats about all that has aged somewhat well. All the joints are going and so it's not just getting out of bed that's the issue, it's uncomfortable at times just sleeping as well if I don't have everything laying "just right". The eyes just keep getting worse, and now I have noticed (or so we've been told by the sound on our TV) that the hearing is not what it was either. I FEEL like I tape and glue and arrange and prop the old body everyday and "move along" as best I can, but it's downright frightening to think that this is just the 60's! What happens in the 70's or 80's if God willing I make it that far?? But you are SOO right...with a grandbaby in your arms not much else matters at all. And you lady, just so know, look fantastic! If I had that figure I wouldn't care too much if there is a wrinkle or two. Just sayin....

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  2. Oh, I hear ya! For me, it's the 2 vertical lines above my upper lip. When I first discovered them a few years ago, I was astounded at the realization that they are wrinkles. Wrinkles, really? In my early 50's? For a few months, I bought product after product to try to get rid of them. For the record, those products don't work!

    I finally came to the realization that I could live with them. I am, after all, in my 50's. I shouldn't look like I'm 25 anymore!

    How exciting to soon becoming a nana. I look forward to those days myself (though I will be a Gigi).

    Blessings,
    Patti

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  3. LOL! Loved this. I am two decades beyond 40. Shortly we will make that 3 decades. The years go by so fast. The older I get the less I worry about what I see in the mirror. I even stopped wearing makeup at all about three years ago. And just keeping my hair really short so I don't have to worry about it. The messy hair look is something that just drives me crazy. Becoming a granny is the best thing to combat all the worry about what you see in the mirror!

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  4. Made me smile. Those lines are character lines, not age lines. Be proud of them because you have arrived and will soon be a Nana!!

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  5. The neck. Oh how the neck causes me anguish! That and the the mining skin on my legs. Sigh. Thanks for articulating for me!

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  6. I don't mind the lines on my face, but my neck ones bother me a lot, it's like my face is slipping down there.

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  7. Preaching to the choir, sister! LOL Yep, having a grand baby makes you not care about the lines or the pony tail. :)

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  8. You are gorgeous, inside and out... and that is one lucky grandbaby!

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  9. Yes, the neck!!!! But, I've done all I can do and I'll keep doing it and hope for the best and wear high collared blouses. :o)) Cute post!!!

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  10. I am right with you on EVERYTHING here sister!! There are so many examples to prove we aren't what we used to be but let's go with another cliche, we're not getting older, we're getting better!! ❤️

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  11. After undergoing a recent near death experience, I look in the mirror each day and think I look pretty darn good. I love being an Oma, and although I am nearly 59 (Really? How did that happen?) I still feel and I think look pretty good. I asked Hubby how the neck looked and he said it looks good. I love how coolly this man can fib! Yes, need glasses as well, but then, I can see Savannah and Quinn. Lucky Oma! Remember, Beauty is inside and it will also show outside too. And Joyce, you are beautiful!

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  12. I'm a few years ahead of you, but I still remember discovering those awful wrinkles in my neck, too... Sigh. Letting my hair go gray was the real kicker, but now I look like the "Mimi" that I am...
    You sound like our DIL, Jennifer, when it comes to having a picture taken. We have to give her a "heads up" about ten minutes before, so she can freshen up :)
    Kathy (Reflections)

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  13. Such a great post, Joyce. We are right there with you, sister. But, it is all about perspective, isn't it. I blogged about this a few days ago. Along with aging come so many benefits among which tops the list is grandchildren. Yessiree! I'll take the crepey neck and joint pain any day.

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  14. Amen to this entire post! I don't like seeing my face in FaceTime, but love looking at the kids. But I think you still look fresh faced. Wrinkles indicate where smiles have been.

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  15. I am in my 60s and can so relate to everything you said. But you are so right about the grandbaby making up for any neck lines. Kind of puts aging in perspective.

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  16. Great topics. Like Mrs. T, I can identify. I just started wearing some make-up this year. Since I hardly ever spend time in the sun (migraines), my face is definitely in the zombie zone.

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  17. I laughed when I read this this morning. Last week my DIL had the baby and she face-timed with the grandson who was here with me. He would move and I would see myself - sans make-up, which means no eyebrows or lashes, not even lipstick. Ugh. The next day they came her with the baby and she insisted on taking a picture. I told her that under NO circumstance is she ever to let anyone else ever see that photo. I rarely smiled when I was young cause someone told me it would create wrinkles. Hell, I got them anyway.

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  18. Well I think you look great although I get all the points you're making, however I've come to accept that we can't stop the ageing process. As others have said it's also about what's inside and being content. And babies don't care how you look, just how you cuddle!

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  19. I love this post, Joyce! Its like you've looked into my diary-tribes about myself. haha

    We can do this getting older thing. Like you said, "what's the big deal about a few lines in your neck when there's a grandbaby in your arms?"

    You are so very blessed!

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  20. Hand raised....
    Yes this is all in God's plan for us. We can't fight it, we must embrace it with honor. When you find the trick to accepting that let me know...LOL!

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