I got a haircut yesterday. I brought in a picture of Salma Hayek and came out, well, not so Salma, but definitely an improvement. Now, the only thing I have in common with Salma is height and a square face. I don't have the figure, the cute nose, the exotic skin, the amazing eyebrows, the luscious lips. But her hair is black and mine used to be. So I decided we were the same type. Small, so no overpowering hair. Opinionated, so I needed an opinionated hairdo, something with spunk.
My hairdresser evidently thought spunk was going too far, but I can always hack on my hair a bit and make it more like the photo. I deliberately took the photo back with me. I am not giving up on my Salma. No way.
The funny thing is, this hairdresser is only four years younger than I, and she finds it perfectly okay to give herself too young "dos" and color her hair caramel in a desert. So why can't I have something a little goofy? Being in the hands of a hairdresser is like reverting to babyhood again. And that is not a really comfortable place for me. My first memory is looking in a full length mirror after my mother had cut hideous bangs on me, and hating her. Then, I got into trouble by cutting my friend's blond hair to the scalp on one side. So, let's say, I have issues. Serious issues.
But hair grows. My hair grows like a wildfire in Kansas. And I have my own scissors. I can take control of the situation. I am the mistress of my own locks. Well, almost.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Old Age Day by Day August 19, 2010
My husband has a talk today, and he was nervous as he left. I made up a couple of jokes for him to use, but I doubt he will. He's better at public speaking than he thinks, and sometimes transcends himself outright, like his speech when our older daughter got married. He's full of surprises. In fact, people are full of surprises, and that is a good thing, because we tend to diminish people in our assessments of them, and the surprise reminds me that I don't "know" the other person as well as I think I do, and expecting certain behavior is not giving the other person a chance. I'd not like it if someone did that to me - in fact, it undoubtedly happens, but I'm usually unaware of it.
It's sort of like when I had the colonoscopy Tuesday, and the nurse was required to ask me if I was abused, and I told her I'd run safehouses for battered women for twelve years, and about the time a batterer barged right in the hospital room of a client and threatened me. Luckily, security arrived quickly, but he was about to beat me up for "giving his wife ideas". Radical ideas such as she had a right not to be hit. So then I wasn't just an annonymous 64 year old lady, but a person who had more stories than the nurses, and they eased up and we chatted and laughed. You never know who you're talking to, and you might be surprised if you left your preconceptions at the door and just see what shows up. Life is definitely more interesting that way.
It's sort of like when I had the colonoscopy Tuesday, and the nurse was required to ask me if I was abused, and I told her I'd run safehouses for battered women for twelve years, and about the time a batterer barged right in the hospital room of a client and threatened me. Luckily, security arrived quickly, but he was about to beat me up for "giving his wife ideas". Radical ideas such as she had a right not to be hit. So then I wasn't just an annonymous 64 year old lady, but a person who had more stories than the nurses, and they eased up and we chatted and laughed. You never know who you're talking to, and you might be surprised if you left your preconceptions at the door and just see what shows up. Life is definitely more interesting that way.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Old Age Day by Day August 18, 2010
I haven't been singing enough. I need to get back in practice. The quality of my life improves so much with music, even if it's just The Wiggles with a granddaughter. I feel lifted with music, and for some reason I've forgotten to include it in my day. At our cabin, I have a few ancient CDs and a player, and in the evening, when I'm reading, I listen to Kitka or Cole Porter or opera arias. And when I get back home, I forget to sit down and enjoy music, and lately, I've been forgetting to sing as I walk the dogs or am in the car. Maybe I'd better forget NPR and stick a CD in, so I can sing along to Linda Ronstadt or Magnetic Fields. I had been playing French Cafe Songs in the car, and somehow they felt familiar and goofy at the same time. So much for news, I need the real heart of the matter.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Old Age Day by Day August 16, 2010
I'm pretty chipper, considering the dogs woke me up at 3:30 am and I am on my clear liquids diet before the colonoscopy. I bought a romance/mystery book to get me through today, and I can always plan a redesign of my bathroom while I'm living in it. A friend is taking me at 7:30 am tomorrow morning, and I hope to be groggy enough to be unaware of my surroundings. All my friends and I are saying it seems like we no more get finished with all the yearly checkups than they begin all over again. So many parts, and so much that can go wrong.
I amazed myself by overeating last night, and it evidently was just because I couldn't eat today, and I felt bloated and full of starches. I had a large beer, big salad, bread and butter and a whole "individual" (if the person is a giant) pizza. I wanted to stuff and stuff my mouth with something, and it was crystal clear that the stuffing was not doing anything for my anxiety level. I know better, but when has my knowledge led the pack? Fear was riding ahead like Secretariat, and sensibility was way back before the curve. Oh well, even we elderly must regress at times. Keep our hand in the pulse of the nation. Wisdom is not a companion to me, just an occasional visitor.
I amazed myself by overeating last night, and it evidently was just because I couldn't eat today, and I felt bloated and full of starches. I had a large beer, big salad, bread and butter and a whole "individual" (if the person is a giant) pizza. I wanted to stuff and stuff my mouth with something, and it was crystal clear that the stuffing was not doing anything for my anxiety level. I know better, but when has my knowledge led the pack? Fear was riding ahead like Secretariat, and sensibility was way back before the curve. Oh well, even we elderly must regress at times. Keep our hand in the pulse of the nation. Wisdom is not a companion to me, just an occasional visitor.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Old Age Day by Day August 15, 2010
I had a nice time with my foster granddaughter. We went out to lunch, saw a movie (Ramona and Beezus) and relaxed at home. She had an hour bath, as I had a new bath baby with accoutriments. We read many books. She slept like a lamb. Today we had our artistic endeavors after breakfast, then went to a museum and had lunch. The twenty - four hours went by beautifully. At five, she's so much easier than before, and even better to talk to. Her will is still indomitable, but she compromises more, and is not as insistent. In two weeks she begins kindergarten.
Her mom, who has been a widow for over three years, has a boyfriend, and I met him, and he is delightful. I'm so happy for her, and my granddaughter, and their future. Things change, and then they change again. He has made them both more at ease, and for that alone I bless him. There are good guys out there. I like thinking about that.
Her mom, who has been a widow for over three years, has a boyfriend, and I met him, and he is delightful. I'm so happy for her, and my granddaughter, and their future. Things change, and then they change again. He has made them both more at ease, and for that alone I bless him. There are good guys out there. I like thinking about that.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Old Age Day by Day August 14, 2010
This weekend I have my foster granddaughter, and it's her first overnight with me. I'm a bit nervous, but it should be fine. I've got a dozen ideas about where to go and what to do, and hopefully she'll be attracted to some of them. She's very opinionated, and her will is about ten times stronger than mine, because, I admit it, I think everything she says and does is adorable. Okay, I'm a sucker, but that is what grandparents are supposed to be.
My daughter sent a video of my 2 year old granddaughter singing, and her older friend dancing through the frame. She's also talking on the toy telephone, and explaining she's on the phone so can't finish the song. I wonder where she heard about being on the phone and so not being able to attend to another activity? Humm. What they pick up from us!
Yesterday, a friend brought her grandson over to see our dogs, and I had gotten him a magic kit, and he regaled us with tricks, while we clapped enthusiastically. I am developing this network of grandmothers so we can support each other in the admiration of our grandchildren. We think they are all supersmart, cute as buttons, and outgoing. Why wouldn't they be? We're the paparazzi of the small set. Everyone needs their fans.
My daughter sent a video of my 2 year old granddaughter singing, and her older friend dancing through the frame. She's also talking on the toy telephone, and explaining she's on the phone so can't finish the song. I wonder where she heard about being on the phone and so not being able to attend to another activity? Humm. What they pick up from us!
Yesterday, a friend brought her grandson over to see our dogs, and I had gotten him a magic kit, and he regaled us with tricks, while we clapped enthusiastically. I am developing this network of grandmothers so we can support each other in the admiration of our grandchildren. We think they are all supersmart, cute as buttons, and outgoing. Why wouldn't they be? We're the paparazzi of the small set. Everyone needs their fans.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Old Age Day by Day August 13, 2010
The sun has come out, and did yesterday afternoon as well. Yet, it is Friday the 13th. I can kind of tell, because the doctor's office called and canceled my colonoscopy on Monday, I missed a call from my therapist rescheduling my appointment with her, I could not get a group email to work, because some of the addresses were somehow wrong, and I don't like what I'm wearing and can't decide whether to cancel my haircut appointment next Tuesday. I'm all discomboobulated. I know, it's not a word, but it works for me.
A lot of deep breaths will calm me down, but I am out of sorts. I hate having a colonoscopy, but I hate putting it off and having to think about it longer. There is no pleasing me today, or at least up until now.
Hopefully, some cheering up will occur, because I am blessed with a generally sunny nature, and I still have two biopsy reports next week if I need to worry. I'll just concentrate on those, and forget my colon. Ah, the joys of getting older!
A lot of deep breaths will calm me down, but I am out of sorts. I hate having a colonoscopy, but I hate putting it off and having to think about it longer. There is no pleasing me today, or at least up until now.
Hopefully, some cheering up will occur, because I am blessed with a generally sunny nature, and I still have two biopsy reports next week if I need to worry. I'll just concentrate on those, and forget my colon. Ah, the joys of getting older!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)