Love this. I'm the same age and my image of myself in my head is so different from the one in the mirror. When young people are surprised by my grasp of contemporary issues or appreciation of their style or whatever, I want to scream, "I was wild and fashionable once! I did the drugs, went to the gigs, slept with all the people and look, I still have multiple piercings in my ear!" But I have big dark shadows and a squishy jaw and my tits are like the lumpy sagging shelf of my old Maths teacher at school, a plodding dinosaur of a woman who was probably younger than I am now...
Ah yes, the probably younger then than I am now. Always takes a moment to do the shocking math.
In my 20s I was always the youngest in the room; now I am certainly the oldest on the STREET! I figure the surgery trend benefits us all as it becomes impossible to read anyone’s age, keeping us “in the zone” much longer. Let THEM be shocked to learn my calendar age now!
I was half way through a deeply eloquent appreciation of you, your writing, your comedy and kindness... that was a lifetime ago - also known as this morning‼️
A few hundred miles of things, not problems, but for sure too fast, took me from this little box, which was quite full and rather well constructed.
Loved this post. I'm about to turn 70 this year and in my head I'm 5ft 6, 8 stone and beautifully upright with a smooth grey bob. In the shop window reflection I am 5ft 3, fat (there's no kind way of putting it), round-shouldered and my grey hair is a wayward fly-away nest. But it's okay. I can live in my head.
You are funny! In a haha way, so well written. My aging face has made me want to laugh and cry simultaneously. 🤷🏼♀️ But as you say, we can move, feel joy and look ahead to a better future. I’m okay with the trade off!
All it takes is for a contemporary to have something affect their lives to the point where it overtakes them...and we realize how little our looks actually matter. I have taken so many pictures of myself over the years (I have been doing a fashion blog since 2008, Substack since 2024), that I am used to how I look...but a year or so ago, my face "fell" - and it seriously f**ked me up! But then...well, that's who I am now! I'm grateful not to have any life-threatening ailments, to have my health, to be living this life.
Love this. I'm the same age and my image of myself in my head is so different from the one in the mirror. When young people are surprised by my grasp of contemporary issues or appreciation of their style or whatever, I want to scream, "I was wild and fashionable once! I did the drugs, went to the gigs, slept with all the people and look, I still have multiple piercings in my ear!" But I have big dark shadows and a squishy jaw and my tits are like the lumpy sagging shelf of my old Maths teacher at school, a plodding dinosaur of a woman who was probably younger than I am now...
Yes, I do get it. And I'm quite a lot older than you both! The flowers in my hair do a lot of work for me mentally and emotionally!
Ah yes, the probably younger then than I am now. Always takes a moment to do the shocking math.
In my 20s I was always the youngest in the room; now I am certainly the oldest on the STREET! I figure the surgery trend benefits us all as it becomes impossible to read anyone’s age, keeping us “in the zone” much longer. Let THEM be shocked to learn my calendar age now!
Oh yes, the 'Total Humiliation setting'. Definitely at play in my new driving licence photo, and I thought my passport one was bad enough
I was half way through a deeply eloquent appreciation of you, your writing, your comedy and kindness... that was a lifetime ago - also known as this morning‼️
A few hundred miles of things, not problems, but for sure too fast, took me from this little box, which was quite full and rather well constructed.
It's gone now.
So - you are amazeballs will have to suffice 🙏
Loved this post. I'm about to turn 70 this year and in my head I'm 5ft 6, 8 stone and beautifully upright with a smooth grey bob. In the shop window reflection I am 5ft 3, fat (there's no kind way of putting it), round-shouldered and my grey hair is a wayward fly-away nest. But it's okay. I can live in my head.
You are funny! In a haha way, so well written. My aging face has made me want to laugh and cry simultaneously. 🤷🏼♀️ But as you say, we can move, feel joy and look ahead to a better future. I’m okay with the trade off!
All it takes is for a contemporary to have something affect their lives to the point where it overtakes them...and we realize how little our looks actually matter. I have taken so many pictures of myself over the years (I have been doing a fashion blog since 2008, Substack since 2024), that I am used to how I look...but a year or so ago, my face "fell" - and it seriously f**ked me up! But then...well, that's who I am now! I'm grateful not to have any life-threatening ailments, to have my health, to be living this life.
Excellent article, Michele!