Saturday, June 12, 2010

All The Wrinkled Ladies

Have you seen it? Anita Renfroe's take-off on Beyonce's "All the Single Ladies"? Oh my goodness. I laughed so hard - because I so relate to it. Here's the video:



Leave it to Anita to make us laugh about our wrinkles. She always makes me laugh, and she always makes me think, too. Since I'll be turning the big "6-0" this year, I have to face facts..."Face Lift" facts. Like - I'm probably not going to ever get one, so I have to learn to love those wrinkles, right?

Back in the day when I sold Mary Kay, I used to tell the ladies (as they looked in their magnifying mirrors), "Don't worry honey. If your husband is that close to you, he's not thinking about your wrinkles!" And I'd tell them to use upward strokes for their skin care saying, "Ya'll know everything's going south, so you have to start early." Which reminds me. The other day I put on a belt and looked at myself in the mirror. Would you believe there was no space between the belt and my bosom? What's up with that?

Last weekend I went to a reunion of my high school graduating class, where we all celebrated our 60th Birthday. I walked in and thought who are all of these old people? I did not recognize anybody! The lady doing registration gave us name tags, but you couldn't see them without your glasses. (No one had on glasses, so I didn't wear mine either...well, not until I absolutely had to.) So, people were coming up to me saying, "Oh Gail, it's so good to see you!" I was so embarrassed because I didn't know who they were and couldn't read their name tags.

Another thing I noticed was that there were very few grey haired women there. One lovely friend (also named Gail) had beautiful grey hair just like Paula Deen's, which I aspired to emulate. Well, I am so glad I decided to color my hair before I went. Just three days before, I was as grey as a possum. Both of my daughters told me, "Mom, you need a makeover", so I finally agreed. You've heard of going grey over night? Well, I did just the opposite. I finally faced the fact that my hair would probably never look like Paula Deen's because my mother is 80 and is still salt & pepper grey.

So, there we were...all of us without our glasses (some probably had contacts) and our freshly colored hair. We were looking good! I especially admired one gal's color of red. It was just like I Love Lucy's. I admired her courage - and it looked great, too! I think I'll do that color next!

But boy, you could tell how old we were when the dancing started. The band (named Mid-Life Crisis, appropriately) was outstanding. When they played "Give Me Some Lovin", the dance floor was full. That was "the" song to dance to back in the late 60's.Well, by the next song,"You Say It's Your Birthday", the crowd had thinned out considerably, and gasping for air was heard all around. I really related to that line in Anita's song, "thought I'd do a dip, but don't wanna bust a hip!" By 9:00 PM, most of the old folks had gone home to get ready for bed. Trust me, I was ready, but determined to stay till 10:00, I persevered.

We had a really, really good time. Jem and I danced almost every dance. As a matter of fact, Jem danced every dance. There was always a wrinkled, single lady ready to be his dance partner (and sometimes multiples). One friend said my rabbi husband was so much fun, that she thought she might become Jewish! He's always the life of the party, and I am one lucky gal, I tell you! After a two hour drive home that night, by the next morning, we were in bad shape, believe me. While that song, "Give Me Some Lovin'" was running through my mind, I didn't mention it.

Hey, like my daughter, Melissa, said, "You're not dead yet!" That's exactly right. I'm at peace with my wrinkles, my grey hair (underneath the dye), my bi-focals, my poochy stomach, lumpy thighs, and all that. I keep telling myself, "Self, you are not getting older, you are getting better!" Most days I believe it! Others, not so much.

Like one of my 80 year old friends said, "Getting old is not for sissies!" Well, there's only one alternative, honey, so we've got to make the best of it, right?

I'm thankful G-d has let me live this long. I've had a good life so far, and I'm very happy and content. My husband tells me I get more beautiful every day and I believe him. I feel the same way about "all the wrinkled ladies" at the Lee High 60th Birthday Party Reunion. Every one of them looked beautiful...wrinkles and all! (Especially to me, 'cause I didn't have my glasses on!)

Here we are - and I think we all look really good for 60 year old ladies!!! Don't you?



Writing prompt from Mama Kat’s Writers Workshop: A Happy Reunion

7 comments:

  1. Age is definately just a number. I went to my 20 school reunion 3 years ago and even at 40 we only seemed to feel like we just left school. Due to still having 3 young children under the age of 8 I feel much younger and am perceived to be younger than I am. But in the end it really doesn't matter. Heck, I thought all year long I was 42 and I was only 41 ha, it really doesn't matter what the number is. Have a great weekend.

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  2. How fun! I loved reading about your reunion. You all look young and it sounds like you had a great time. Lisa~

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  3. I am so glad that you and Jem could come to the class 60th birthday party - and am so happy that you had a really good time. To me, one of the really neat things that happens is that when I come to a class party/function, I see everyone as they were, not necessarily as they are. I look at the men and they become boys again - the same boys that I flirted with in high school as we walked down the halls of Lee. The ladies become those young girls that we all used to be - we act silly together, having wonderfully good times again - being girls again. The wrinkles that may be there just fall away, and the few extra pounds disappear, and we are all young girls again. I see them through the eyes of love, and it is a wonderful thing. Several of us have had this conversation, and we all agree, that this phenomena happens each and every time we get together. I watched this same phenomena happen with my own mother when she would get together with her high school friends. It is seeing each other through the eyes of love. What a blessing this is, and I hope it never changes. Can't wait for the next get-together!

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  4. Pam Register MurrayJune 17, 2010 at 9:02 AM

    I goofed up, and didn't put my name on the above blog - it's me, Gail - Pam Register Murray. I am not an experienced blogger. I'll get the name thing correct next time! Have a good day!

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  5. Hi there, Thanks for stopping by my blog :)I think you ladies look FANTASTIC for 60! Good for you. Women are beautiful at any age, it's joy and humour and grace and spunk that show through. Love it!

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  6. Gail honey, who are you calling wrinkled.... you are right there with us baby.... we all look good for a bunch of 60 year olds and will continue to look good. I am like Pam I see everyone like those silly kids in school. Don't be calling us wrinkled & old..... We are all young at heart... Don't forget it...can't wait to see you at the next Reunion. Hey it will be the 45th Reunion. How does that make you feel now. You are only as old as you feel...... Your Young at Heart Classmate, Nancy Dowling Ware

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  7. That video is so great!! Saw it a few weeks ago and sang it all day!!!!!! I just turned 50 last year and feel totally blessed to feel good in my own skin!even if it has stretched a tiny bit:)

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