Okay, take a good look at the second picture. No, don't look at the accidental blond, look at the hunky guy with the beard--no, not MY beard, Mel's! I had this on my laptop screen when he came home from work. I thought it looked pretty good. Mel wasn't so sure.
We knew on Saturday that we would have to either do a photo shoot ourselves or put ourselves at the mercy of a professional photographer. Since two of our favorites, Amber Zimmerman and Grant Schmidt, live too far away in opposite directions, we decided to make a date of it and try to do it ourselves.
Mel took his beloved little camera in his hot little hand and off we went to Jolly Mill, Missouri, and Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where our next books are to be set. It was a fun day because Mel loves taking pictures, and this was a rare day when I allowed him to photograph me. He went a little wild.
I pulled up some of the shots yesterday on the computer and showed them to Mel. The first picture you see at the top was his reaction.
"Crow's feet! I have crow's feet!" he said.
"Those are laugh lines. They're beautiful."
"Lines. That's what they are. Lines. Age lines. I'm getting old."
"They are marks of laughter, showing a life lived with joy and abandon. It shows your character. And don't forget, I'm older than you."
That shut him up, and he knows I believe what I said about the beautiful lines.
When I was a little girl, I looked at those lines on the faces of my parents and my aunts and uncles--who were all very attractive people--and couldn't wait until I had some of my own. So I laughed a lot, practiced in the mirror to see how naturally I could smile while producing those laugh lines. It took awhile. It took years. Actually, decades, but finally I have them, and I will not have Mel fretting over his.
Getting old physically is hard, but there are some good things about it. My favorites are the laugh lines that reflect a life of joy. Other lines reflect deep sorrow. Experience shows in the eyes, in the way a person looks out at the world. In some eyes, I may see beauty, but I may also see bitterness and cynicism. Unfortunately, I see that in the mirror on some days. Other days I see satisfaction, a deeper understanding, and my special favorite, I see the confidence that, no matter what I look like on the outside, or even what my heart reflects on any given day, God loves me unconditionally.
When you look in the mirror, what do you see? What are some of your favorite physical traits that you appreciate about yourself as you grow older and your beauty seasons?
Labels: true beauty, Youth vs wisdom
Okay, take a good look at the second picture. No, don't look at the accidental blond, look at the hunky guy with the beard--no, not MY beard, Mel's! I had this on my laptop screen when he came home from work. I thought it looked pretty good. Mel wasn't so sure.
Delicious
9 Comments:
What a cool picture of you and Mel! You make the proverbial "lovely couple." Haaaa
When I look in the mirror I see my mother. Ack! I'm too young to look the way I remember her! Actually I am not, but often I don't want to admit that. I see the laugh/cry lines, the gray hair, the crooked smile...all the features from my mom that are burned into my memory. There are times when I pass the mirror and quickly glance into it that I see my mother instead of me. It's kind of shocking...especially so when I demonstrate the same personality traits. Oy vey! I've actually become her!!
I love these photos of you two. You look great.
As to the "getting older" business--I hate it. But, with that said, I remember this wrinkle between the eyes that I named the "Pierson worry wrinkle" because my grandfather, aunts, and my mom all had it. I wondered if when I got old enough for wrinkles if I would inherit it. I've tried really hard to keep my forehead smooth (though no Botox--ack! poison!) I prefer the laugh lines, frankly.
Our faces tell a story, don't they?
I agree, Ruthie, except, I look in the mirror and sometimes see my grandma. Since I have at least 45 first cousins on my mother's side (yes, really) I see all kinds of family traits. One of my closest women cousins looks exactly like my grandmother did. Grandma was beautiful.
I agree with you, Crystal. Botox scares me. I know a lot of people use it, but Mel wonders what could happen if it "woke up" or "got loose." LOL
I appreciate the attributes that connect me to family, especially since I have no brothers or sisters or children. That connection is important.
Cheryl, I'd totally forgotten that I admired laugh lines in my aunts and uncles too! Wow! You've made me see my own crows' feet in a whole different way this morning. (Could you write something equally cheering about double chins?)
I loved this! What a refreshing perspective... thank you!
About double chins, Deb...LOL...all I know is I think I notice my own more than anyone else does. And if that isn't true, I don't want anyone to tell me!
For photo shoots, the V neck elongates, looking up at the camera diminishes double chin, and in a straight shot, lower your chin, don't raise it. I'm sure you know all these already, but I'm just learning them.
Celestemc, when you look in the mirror, try to see what God sees in you.
that's a nice shot of the 2 of ya!
Thank you, my dear jel. I'm on a ladies retreat this weekend and missing my hubby.
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