Monday, October 20, 2008

Wrinkled Was Not One of The Things I Wanted to Be When I Grew Up

The other day my dear friend (and favorite co-worker), Kitty, and I were sitting around talking about getting older and the changes that it brings. Kitty is 55 years old and looks amazing. She has always taken extremely good care of her skin and I've never seen her without perfect hair, make-up, and wearing a new outfit with matching shoes, purse and jewelry. Just like me. Pshhhh. Yeah right.

You should also know that Kitty (her real name is Catherine but has always been called Kitty since she was a little girl) has her PhD in Education and therefore I love to call her Dr. Kitty, for obvious reasons.

Well, she was saying that she wanted to get something done to hide some of the wrinkles on her face. She was talking about a quick, in-and-out treatment that is relatively inexpensive.
She likes to joke about our age difference and often says, "I'm old enough to be your mama." So when I jokingly tell her that I think I need to get that 'wrinkle treatment' for myself, I assumed she would laugh.
Nope.
Not the case.
Without laughing or smiling, she seriously points her perfectly manicured finger toward my face and says, "Yea, they'd probably do the treatment right there....and..... there on you."
She was pointing to my laugh lines/smile lines on the sides of my mouth.
"Kitty you better hush!"
"What? They could get rid of those ya know."
And then we just started laughing at how she straight up, without even trying to make a girl feel better, pointed out my wrinkles.

But you know, I'm proud of my smile lines. If there's one type of wrinkle that I don't mind having, it's them. It shows that I've smiled and laughed a lot in my lifetime, and they remind me of all of the people and experiences that have helped me earn 'em.

My sister, Big Al, used to make fun of me in high school. She said that she'd look out of her classroom window and see me walking down the sidewalk with a big smile on my face, even when I was walking by myself!
I deny the part about smiling when by myself, but she swears it's true. In all honesty I was probably having a full-on conversation with myself, but I'll deny that if asked also.

So, I'm okay with the fact that I have permanent parenthesis on either side of my mouth. Deep inside those lines are many happy memories.

I'm actually somewhat proud of them.

I'd rather have smile lines than frown lines any day.

But don't get my started on my under the eye area.



20 comments:

Jay @halftime lessons said...

LOL
Remember, you're not getting older, you're getting BETTER.
;-)
Jay
Ps- starting a new tradition today...a Pessimistic Monday Prize...come see!

Weeksie50 said...

lol- don't you just love friends that love you enough to be completly honest?

I also think that wrinkles from smiles are the best possible ones..

Anonymous said...

Well, I'm with you - I'm fine with having smile lines... It's the eye wrinkles that I'm worried about - which btw, I don't think you have... But, I noticed this morning that I definately have some making way onto my face. They appeared overnight, I swear.

BTW, thanks for saying that you'd miss me the other day... It's been a rough week and I needed to hear that someone would miss me..

Unknown said...

Smile lines are the best! :)

Unknown said...

I hate the concept of hiding the lines on your face...I think they all tell a story! I think you're gorgeous, dont mess with perfection!

Mrs Anne said...

You, my dear, are so lovely!

I, too, embrace my smile lines! :)

I doubt I'll ever have any "procedures" done to my face. Except for a facial now and then. No botox wanted!

:)

Anonymous said...

I agree that wrinkles tell a story. And smile lines tell a happy one!

Lindsey said...

I agree! I much rather have smile lines than frown lines ANY day! Love it!

Naturally Caffeinated Family said...

Ha, reminds me of when I've gone in for a haircut or bikini wax and the woman says, oh would you like your eye brows done too, you need it!

I'll keep smiling too, without treatment :)!

~Mrs. Guru~ said...

Such a great post. I have wrinkle lines under my eyes as well.

Lianna Knight said...

Now that was a funny post!! Actually I'm starting to get sagging eyelids...just like my mom!! I think it's from years of making fun of hers that now I'm blessed with them....oh what is a girl to do????

Jenni said...

I'm with you! Smile lines are nice! It's the dark circles I'd like fixed!

Diva Ma @ Mommy Fabulous said...

Keep smilin' girl! Those lines just prove that you have a lot to be happy about!

Liana said...

your gorgeous! and your family is beautiful!! don't worry about silly lines :) i've always loved that my mother embraced her gray hair and lines, she has aged gracefully because she's a beautiful woman...and that's what your daughter should know :)

Trina said...

I have those too and I used to HATE them. So much that I would keep myself from smiling too long or laughing too much. What's that about?! But not anymore. As you so wonderfully put it, I am proud of have the permanent parenthesis around my mouth :) LOL

Melissa @ I Pick Pretty said...

Thanks - have been feeling rather self-conscious about my own smile wrinkles lately, so this dose of perspective helps.

And I like the song lyrics above; I needed those today.

Puttin' On The GRITS said...

That's how I realized how right Country was for me. I noticed my smile lines stuck around a little longer when I was with him and I eventually had to avoid make up there because it'd make a line...only with him.

Now the one on my forehead...not so much.

Angela said...

i agree with you, laugh lines for me any day. my friend just had a facial laser treatment and i swear lines disappeared. i am thinking but maybe a few more years.

Virginia said...

Love it, dear. I would like to think that at least some of my parentheses come from yuks we encountered.

MiMi said...

You are a beautiful woman and you should be proud of those "parenthesis" on either side of your mouth! Like you said...they are a reminder of many happy memories!