There are certain events that occur in our lives marking the end of an era. There is going to a movie or the mall by yourself for the first time, learning to drive, graduation from high school, perhaps another from college (if you are a glutton for punishment like me there may even be one for an advanced degree), the prom, the death of someone we love, meeting that special someone and maybe deciding to share a life together, buying a house, and a slew of other things. Some of these events are happy, some sad, others thrilling, others scary. Then there are those events that are...I don't know...what's the word I'm looking for...old feeling?
Before I regale you with all the gory details, I feel I should preface this with a little background info. Now, I have never been one of those people who looks young for her age. I have friends who can now pass as 18-year-olds in their late 20's, but I could pass as a late 20-year-old when I was 17. There was a stint in high school where I looked like a mid-30 tax accountant following a terrible hair-cut that is in all my senior pictures. All I'm saying, I've never been super young looking, but I also don't think that I look that much older than my actual age now. I mean, I did get it together when I figured out that straightening my hair with a straightener was necessary as was regularly plucking my uni-brow.
Over the last few months, events took place foreshadowing what was to come. I overheard a daughter telling her mom she was dating herself by referring to 'Pretty in Pink' in a discussion. I referenced 'Dougie Howser' to someone and they stared blankly at me. Finally, some adolescents I come in contact with asked me if computers used floppy disks back in my day. Still, none of these things prepared me for what was to come. So, last week, I was talking to a group of young girls about body image. We were discussing how the media influences our concept of beauty and the pressure placed on people to attempt to live-up to unrealistic expectations. As we are discussing this and looking at a slideshow (thanks Dr. Neurotic), we got to a picture of an older woman. One girl goes, "Ugghh, how is being old pretty?" So, we talk about age and beauty and I say something to the effect, "We live in a culture that glorifies youth. I say, embrace our wrinkles it just means we are using our faces appropriately." I was just high fiving myself in my head when one young girl says, "Yeah, you do have wrinkles. I mean they are only on your neck, but yeah."
Balls. Oh course I wanted to run screaming to the bathroom to investigate my neck and then make a Botox appointment. I would never do that, because I don't believe in it, but still my head nearly exploded. Chalking it up to just youthful challenging, I went to my waxer to get my eyebrows done. I walk in and she immediately goes, "Oh, it's been a long time since you've been waxed hasn't it." The truth was, I had just had it done 2 1/2 weeks ago. It didn't stop there though, she looked at me and said, "Are we doing something about this mustache today too?" AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!! Perhaps it was just clever marketing and sales on her part, but SERIOUSLY! I had her slap some wax on my upper lip pronto. The worst part though, she had to pluck some nose hair as well. Punch me in the face.
My week was rounded out by finding my first gray hair yesterday. Oh well, aging happens. All I can do is wax, pluck, and embrace. : )
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