The other day, I was looking for some water-based paint to re-freshen a few furniture pieces in my home. These pieces are easy to clean and move, hence my wish to protect them and prolong their life.
Over the years, I had to take some hard decisions such as replacing old, but beautiful ,solid wooden items that I liked, with lighter items - just because I didn't want to work hard , or be dependent on cleaning ladies.
While in the store, I heard someone call my name with a question mark intonation at the end. I turned my head but saw no one familiar. After a few seconds, I heard my name again and a woman, whom I did not recognize, approached me and introduced herself. She was an acquaintance, a former neighbor.
Her mask was under the chin, but with or without the mask, I couldn't have recognized her, as her face was totally changed. She looked different, obviously as a result of plastic surgery.
I'm very much in favor of people trying to improve their appearance and confidence by softening wrinkles, even reshaping the nose which is right in the middle of the face - but changing the whole face - that's crazy.
Not young, not wealthy... not ugly either, just an ordinary woman; so what's got into her, why all this?I didn't ask her any questions. I hoped, perhaps, she'd raise the subject herself, but she didn't. So , though shocked, I tried to behave naturally.
She rearranged her mask to cover nose and mouth, and keeping distance, we exchanged a few nice, polite words for old time's sake.
There is a programme on TV called Botched where patients are examined for possible cosmetic surgery, have the operation and are assessed later. Some operations are essential eg to improve breathing, but many are insane eg to make their arse bigger.
ReplyDeleteI despair.
There are,indeed, plastic surgery procedures that are essential for people hurt in various accidents, or needing health improvement (like in breathing); that's understandable.
DeleteThe other cases, for purely aesthetic purposes - hardly accepted or understandable.
I wouldn't choose plastic surgery
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't either. The thing is I'm lazy even when it comes to use the simple, basic procedures like that of applying some cream or lotion.
DeleteI don’t get a lot of cosmetic procedures. There is something about being content. I can’t imagine changing your appearance until you are not recognizable. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteI know of two more cases like that, both famous women - a singer, and an actress who frequently appears in local TV sitcoms.
DeleteOh, it's crazy out there. And even in the midwest. I looked up to see a man wearing a snug floral dress in high heels at the information catalogue at the library. Nice redhead but he had a goatee too..and some kind of headband with fluffy ear and a tail. I must say he walks well in those shoes. Sometimes, it's just hard to keep a straight face when they approach you. I wanted to tell him he needed to be wearing a mask, but I didn't.
ReplyDeleteYou should keep a box of masks in the library and offer them to people who enter unmasked, without a word.
DeleteHere, drivers of buses who dared asking a passenger to put on a mask, got beaten. So now, they are expecting the other passengers to interfere, but people are afraid to do so.
We do encourage mask, but we can't make them. We have to wear them. I'm glad I can wear one cause I can make as many faces as I want with some patrons I deal with.
DeleteI mean the library has to buy a box of masks and offer one to the person who happens to enter unmasked. There will always be oneor two who forgot or refuse to wear one, for some reason.
DeleteWe do have mask available, of course, the patron has to pay a dollar if they want one. But these days, patrons are going without mask. And we are getting more busy each day.
DeleteI see. At home, I keep a box with masks close to the door. If someone is unmasked I'll offer him one, explaining to him politely that I'm what is called "risk group", sp, would he please, not get offended.
DeleteSounds like a great idea. I wish ours were for free.
DeleteIt's not a big expense, after all, and it gives you some peace of mind.
DeleteI'm sure the women do it for vanity. I'm not in favour of face lifts and find it's totally unnecessary. Why not grow old/age gracefully. If in an accident that affects your face that's a different matter.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. You've summed it up perfectly.
DeleteRef your neighbour, how sad to be unrecognisable!
ReplyDeleteI think unless you are exceptionally ugly/medically so, plastic surgery is not something to indulge in - those who do this for vanity I think are mostly insecure and need some guidance in improving their self image. There's a lot to be said for growing old gracefully, accepting the body and face God gave us and loving ourselves for the way we are. Ref paint, chalk paint is popular in the uk, there are books also on how to use it creatively, which may interest you (if it's accessible in your part of the world of course) Betty :)
Thanks for the tip about chalk paint; never heard of it.
DeleteAs for my former neighbor - I find that sad. Like you, I'm for aging gracefully, loving myself the way I am and be thankful to God.
I totally agree with you ! Mostly it's not well done and you can see it ! I prefer getting old with wrinkles !!
ReplyDelete"Mostly it's not well done.." - right.
DeleteI often see "new" noses and lips that look worse than before. But - 'to each his own' , as they say.
Super blog
ReplyDeleteThank you Rajani Rehana, for your always kind words.
DeleteIt's quite sad when so many people, men as well as women, seek to gild the lily, so to speak, even though they seem 'normal-looking' to others. Sometimes it's vanity, sometimes it's simply they think they look odd in some way. There are so many ways they view their appearance as 'abnormal' and want to make changes.
ReplyDeleteI think that social media, such as Facebook etc, has a lot to answer for in many cases. Botox is a very risky 'self-improvement' course to follow. Eye-lid surgery and face-lift operations, breast implants and other enhancements have had terrible and painful outcomes for many.
All these treatments are costly, and not just in monetary terms. They're also relatively short-lived in numerous instances.
We all should accept the way we are and know that growing older is inevitable. Nothing lasts forever, and I'm remembering the old legend of Eos, Greek goddess of the Dawn, who fell in love with a handsome human, Tithonus, and pleaded to Zeus to make Tithonus immortal so that they could live together forever. Eos forgot to ask for eternal youth for her lover. He just grew older and older... ad infinitum but couldn't die.
The search for such enduring youth continues for many, but not for the majority over 50 ;-)
Hi Philip,
DeleteI'm always very glad to hear from you.
I see you've got quite a vast knowledge of the various beauty procedures (Botox, face-lift, implants).
You're right, of course, about the high costs and sometimes terrible outcomes.
I'm not against people's trying to improve their appearance,but not through surgery. It's possible.
I greatly agree with the key sentence in your comment :"We should accept the way we are and know that growing old is inevitable".
I've never understood the emphasis on looks. When I was young in Sweden, where young girls are pretty, I was a nobody. In Lodnon, no one looked twice at me. Then I came to America and all of a sudden, I was a super star in the looks department. I was never impressed and found the attention annoying. It's nice and peaceful to be old and wrinkled and liked for who I am rather than how I look.
ReplyDeleteSwedish girls are famous for their beauty. You were not different; even now one can see you're a 'looker'.
DeleteAnyway, at a certain age,all we wish is to be healthy and live peacefully with ourselves and with our surrounding.
Women... or men... who get cosmetic surgery hope for a perfect result but so many complications can occur. We have read about these cases many times. Everyone wants to look young or younger.
ReplyDeleteTrue. Like you, I can understand people wishing to look younger and better, but cosmetic surgery carries with it risks. Besides,the Before and After are often frustrating.
DeleteThe reason her mask was on her chin is she was showing off her new face. I thonk Elvis Presley's late wife, Priscilla has ruined her face with plastic surgery. Each to his own, but the fear of a complete transformation or botched job would deter me.
ReplyDeleteI remember that in the years prior to retirement, the young secretary in our office decided to fix her nose only (shorten it).The result was not good, and it affected her mood and behavior. She became a bitch (maybe people were tactless and said something like what have you done to yourself).
DeleteIt's a shame some people feel the need to change themselves rather than embrace who they are, but I hope that your neighbour is happy after the surgery at least :)
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a lovely weekend :) We have had a fun one with a couple of events.
Away From The Blue
I'm also hoping my former neighbor is pleased with the face-reshape result. Hard to know. Our chat was brief (covid time), and she kept silent about it.
DeleteGlad to know you've had an eventful week with fun and pleasure.
I never understood someone people's need for plastic surgery. I have a 3 inch scar down the left side of my face and never considered getting plastic surgery to fix it. It's just part of who I am.
ReplyDeleteA relative of mine has a scar on her face. She was born with it(no disease or accident), and she refuses to try and remove it. Like you, she says it's part of who she is.
DeleteThough visible, it hasn't interfered with her plans. She's a successful woman, married, with kids.
Hoping your neighbor is content. That is my wish
ReplyDeleteThat's the most important thing: she has to be content. Now she cannot blame age, or nature, but only herself, in case she feels let down.
DeleteIt seems that so often people who have plastic surgery, end up looking completely different and often not in a good way. I hope she doesn't look fake and that she is happy with it.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't been in touch for a long time, so I was surprised of her new look, and haven't have time in the store, to form an opinion. What matters is how she feels about it. I very much hope she's happy with it.
DeleteI might go under the knife someday. But I'm hoping a magic noninvasive remedy comes along. Except, not death!
ReplyDeleteI think there are already some good no-knife cosmetic fixes, mainly based on collagen (protein), and hyaluronic acid (serum, injections).
DeleteOne would probably need lots of money and patience, but though not magical, it is said they work.
Oh dear, plastic surgery is not for me, I shall do my best to grow old gracefully.
ReplyDeleteOf course if you have been in an accident then plastic surgery may well be advisable.
All the best Jan
'..grow old gracefully" - good thinking, Jan!
DeletePlastic surgery definitely has its place in certain cases, but it's not a good idea in cosmetics which offers a lot of no-knife beauty possibilities.
Definitely not my thing, although there are more than a few times that if I could use that extra chin I wouldn't mind! But in the end, I'll take what I have, and gratefully.
ReplyDeleteThat's the way, Jeanie. We should take what we have and be grateful to God.
DeleteI see many people that have had some type of work done and you can tell. We have a beautiful local meteorologist which is the weather person on a local channel. She would be gorgeous without makeup and the work she's recently had done on her mouth. Now she's joined the ranks of the women that have the big puffy lips and tons of hair extensions and the semi-permanent outrageous eyelashes.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it turns into catastrophe - that's usually in the nose and lips area.The outcome badly affects the behavior of those women; they become bitter and aggressive.
ReplyDelete