Are those Wrinkles Painful?

This blog might hurt. I know the impetus for it sure did.

I roiled and boiled and thought and considered on my entire hour commute, ruminating over what I felt was an unfair treatment of women of my age.

Recently, a coworker and I were discussing how we feel that we are becoming "invisible" and were trying to figure out when that happened. When did we walk into the room and no one cared we had arrived? When did we go from gaining appreciative looks from passersby to a slight nod of the head, if any acknowledgment at all? And if wrinkles caused pain, we'd be in a world of hurt. Wait... maybe we are in a world of hurt and nobody is paying any attention.

Many of us use Facebook to reconnect with people from previous schools, workplaces, and geographical locations. With that in mind, I belong to a group of former students (we didn't all graduate from there) of a DoD high school.

This morning I was notified that someone had posted on that group's wall, and here is what he (yes, that matters) said: I have not changed any of his comment other than to blank out specific names.
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The Last Time I saw this many old people, I just left my 90 year mom! Sorry, but most of the women look like my grandmother (I'm sure they are grandmothers at our age), but come on, eat less and go to the gym, Try to look at my friend (CH). I'm thinking.. Know wonder men like younger women, so many ladies out there have given up and let themselves go, I'll be 60 in July, but most people think I'm my 40's. I'm not braging at all, let's live longer for our kids, and our grandkids and get back to the gym. And just so you know, men would rather see you girls with colored hair, not grey, but what do I know?, after liviing around the world, and being a man. Just thought you might to know.
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Really, you thought I'd just like to know that? Know what most women live in fear of day by day? That they are not attractive to the opposite sex? That time is catching up? Or has already passed them by?

If you thought this post, Mister N, was going to help someone, think again! The counseling chairs are filled with women (and a few men) with eating disorders because of attitudes like this!

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all in favor of keeping healthy. There needs to be a balance between taking care of one's body and being overly concerned about outward appearance. And I totally agree that we should be around for our kids and grandkids. But this comment just hit me wrong.... or maybe it hit me right.

Right in the wrinkles. And that hurts.

King Me!

Nearly 400 years ago, the Separatists shrugged off the King's edicts and headed to the New World (that's the encapsulated version). So what is it that still draws us to royalty?

What causes us to long for the pomp, the queenly wave, the historical weight of it all?

Would it surprise you to read in the Old Testament that God never intended the people to have a king? HE was to be their only King, and therefore set up judges to rule according to His edicts here on earth. But the people clamored for a king. "All the people around us have one, why not us?"

The Lord relented (as He is prone to do to prove a point), and from then on the king was the "Lord's anointed" - the one chosen for the position. No one was to lay a hand on the Lord's anointed.

Then the world was turned upside down. THE Lord's Anointed One came, sovereignly, to take the place in our hearts of any other earthly king. No one is to usurp His authority.

And yet we strain toward earthly royalty. It is a reminder of prestige, of position, of authority.

I feel the tension. Do you? Wanting royalty "with skin on."

Lord, remind me again and again that I am to long after only my Heavenly King, and yet bless those in authority here on earth. Because You reside in me, Your kingdom is here.

God save the Queen (quite literally), and all her progeny!

Trying out Ping, Lara. But how do you know my taste in music?

Synapse

Who can say what causes one day to be all smiles, another to be all weepy, and still another fairly stable?

I can be getting ready for work in the morning, hear a song on the radio, and dance around - making the dog wonder what this human can possibly be thinking.

But then I can hear that same song (in this case it was Steven Curtis Chapman's "It All Belongs to You") and start to weep as I dance. God, in His powerful and yet unobtrusive way, will break through my self-absorption and use someone's words or melody to get my attention.

Is it the happenstance firing of a neuron? Something about the turkey chili and black beans? When I'm tempted to pull all experience apart and look at it logically, I could very well totally miss how God is intervening.

So, synapse or Spirit, this morning God got my attention. It all belongs to You, God! And it still causes me to weep.

Runaway Train

We wanted to go see the movie, Unstoppable, this weekend, but don't think that will happen. Too many other things on the calendar.

Nevertheless, I still feel like I've been on a runaway train. Why do I allow this to happen? All fingers point in my direction.

It's no secret that I'm on Weight Watchers, and am quite pleased with the results and with the fact that I have a maintenance plan. But every once in a while my appetite and desires get the better of me. I binge. I hate that word. It sound disgusting. And I guess it really is.

I have looked for...and eaten...as much chocolate and nuts I can find today. Out of my bonus points for the week (and my week started this morning), I have 7 left. Truth be told, I've probably under counted, and I really don't have ANY left!

Here's the good news: I know basically where I am. In the past, I would have been content to ignorantly eat everything in sight and pretend I was still going to maintain. I DO have a plan. I DO know how much my body needs (and doesn't).

So, after today's runaway train, the dining car is closed for repairs. Only the fuel for each day will be allowed. It's a plan, and I choose to stick with it.

That's Me All Over...

Is nothing sacred anymore?

I have no one to blame but myself. My name is all over cyberspace, and to some people that would be a good thing. To others, it's just downright scary.

No doubt you've heard of an "ego search" or "ego Google" or some reasonable facsimile. Type your name into a search engine and see what comes up. You may be pleasantly, or unpleasantly, surprised.

Over my lunch hour I determined to do just that...the ego search. And boy was I shocked! Addresses dating back 25 years, my age (correct, I have to admit), and photos! Yipes!

Some people pay good money for this kind of ubiquitous publicity. I think mine is under the heading of "not-so-discerning" sharing on the Internet.

Go ahead and make your day. Search for yourself. And if, by chance, you find yourself, I hope you like what you find.

Weak in the Knees

Have you ever seen something that made your legs go weak? These seem to fall into certain categories for me, but mostly it is of the physical infirmity kind. I'd never be a good nurse!

Anyway, I was returning from our monthly Highlights meeting this morning, heading for the street and thinking that this would probably be the last day I'd want to wear the shoes with open toes. It's getting a bit chilly, and I could feel the breeze sneaking into my instep.

Just as I was reaching the curb, a woman passed in front of me. She was shuffling along, and if she had been pushing a shopping cart, I can assure you I would have safely assumed she was homeless. Her footwear was flip flops.

I glanced at her feet as she shuffled by and saw that her leathery heels were split wide open. May I remind you that she is wearing flip flops and has no "heel" on her shoes.

As I crossed the street I began to sway and had to shake myself of it lest I collapse on the pavement. The sight did indeed make my knees go weak.

What could I have done? No money in my purse to give her for a new pair of shoes or at least some cream for her feet. My shoes would have been of no help to her. That opportunity is past.

But I can be grateful.