Aging Gracefully?

A woman I know who is a little more than 10 years older than me and who I have admired for how well she takes care of herself recently got some minor cosmetic procedures -- from the looks of it, she got Botox and lip injections. I think it actually looks a bit weird, and I actually think she looked better before. What do you think? Would you get something done?

And then this week I found several gray hairs on my head. My highlights have grown out, and I'm due for a touch-up. I was planning on going a little darker for fall, but now I'm rethinking it since gray shows up more against dark hair. Damn, but they were a disappointing surprise. I mean, I know they're inevitable, but I didn't realize I had them! I guess the lighting in the new bathrooms at work is more illuminating (or my bathroom lighting at home is more forgiving). Until now, I've just colored my hair for the fun of it. Plus, I hate the dullness of my "dish-water blonde" color.

So, I'm all for coloring hair, but I don't think I would do anything else. But perhaps it's one of those things we don't consider until we look in the mirror and wonder what happened to our youth...

P.S. Please lay off my frequent commenter "jman." I appreciate his comments and don't want him to stop reading and sharing his opinions. I like the current blogger/reader relationship and not sure I want to change that by meeting him in person. And, of course, he may not want to meet me either, or may not be available.

The Fringe is not City-Friendly

Several months ago, I asked my friend Jenn-Em what I should do to change my hairstyle. I like her sense of style and trust her judgment. But when she suggested I get bangs -- or "fringe" as my British cousins call it -- I debated and thought about it for a few months before taking the plunge.

It takes much more effort to have bangs. More product, more use of styling applainces and more time, but it did look pretty good, and Jenn-Em joked that the bangs were the deciding factor in my new company hiring me!

However, the bangs are NOT City-friendly. In NYC, the wind whips around and through the buildings, even on a day that's not particularly windy. The subways are humid and stuffy, even on beautiful, cool days. The humidity and wind do a number on my hair, so even if I look great before I leave my apartment, by the time I'm at the office, I might as well not have done anything. The bangs especially looked bad -- either flat and glued with sweat to my forehead or swinging out like horns on either side of my head. Not the look I'm going for.

My sister Steph, who I swear has never had a bad hair day in her life, suggested I use more product, or different products, to keep my hair looking good from apartment to office. (Is that her secret?) I tried several and different combinations. I could get it frozen in place, but when the wind blew in my face, my bangs shot up like a bad toupee.

So, I have decided to start the slow and arduous process of growing them back out.

Weekend Review

I didn't post anything at the end of last week because I was too grumpy. I didn't sleep well (for no obvious reason) and was seriously irritable and not fit for human interaction. Doing better now.

I got my hair cut on Friday, although there was a bit of drama. I got the name of a new hairdresser from a coworker whose new haircut really complements her face. I was glad to get an appointment Friday afternoon, since I'd be seeing family on Saturday at my cousin Robert's high school graduation.

I left work early to get to the salon. It was EMPTY when I arrived, except for a teenage boy who was also waiting to get his hair cut. I finally asked him if anyone was working there, and he pointed me to the lone hairdresser in a back room. She informed me that my hairdresser had gone home sick and didn't I get a call from them? Sure enough, I had a voicemail on my cell phone.My fault -- I just hadn't checked it. Dammit...my hair was so long and boring and just shapeless. I really needed it cut! And, I was finally ready to make a change.

I decided to go to Ulta, where they have a walk-in salon, and hope for the best. Thankfully, I got a great gal who was able to add some shape and life back into my hair! Yipee!

On Saturday, I drove to Waco, picked up Grandma and Sudie and drove them to Lexington (small town in the middle of nowhere) for Robert's graduation ceremony. It was really nice. The home school co-op planned the whole affair for their five graduating seniors, an impressive group of young people. Each senior had a video presentation that was made by them and their families, and I cried as Rob's started with an audio recitation of him taking the pledge to protect and defend our country and constitution. The tears continued to roll as pictures of his young life were projected. I'm so proud of him, the first of our family to be accepted to West Point. He's a kind, thoughtful, intelligent young man (not to mention TALL), and it's exciting and bittersweet to see him leaving to start his life as an adult.