I’m Sad About My Face

Nora Ephron, a well-known novelist, and screenwriter wrote a book titled I’m Sad About My Neck. Nora is no longer with us, but I know how she felt because I’m sad about my face. I might as well throw in my neck and butt, too.

I hope some young women are reading this and take heed.

I thought I’d never get old, so of course, I wouldn’t get wrinkled. Since I wasn’t planning on getting old and wrinkled, I didn’t need moisturizer or sunscreen in the California sunshine. Now, after a year in the Mazatlan sunshine, I finally look old. Well, I looked old before I moved here, but now I really look old. I’m 72 and think I look more like 92. I try not to let it bother me, and it doesn’t until I look in the mirror.

I recently bought some moisturizer and sunscreen to see if I could revive the dead. The problem is I hate the way it feels on my skin. I feel hot and sweaty wearing it.

Another part of my resistance to wearing it is that my mother lived with Ponds face cream slathered over her face all the time. I must admit she had beautiful skin. She was also somewhat of a recluse and rarely went outside in the sun. Mom lived to the age of 94. When she was in a nursing home, the nurses committed about the nice skin that she had. Although, who wants to look like a frosted cake all the time.

My best friend's sister died with beautiful skin at the age of 80. After she passed, the hospital asked if the family would donate her skin for burn victims. They said no and now my friend regrets that they didn't do it. I think about that and would have gladly donated my mother's skin to burn victims if asked. My skin is not worthy of such a gift.

I bet Muslim women who wear the full burkas have very nice skin. They must look young at any age.

Maybe I could have these wrinkles lasered off here in Mexico. I’m not sure if I care enough to spend the money. It’s cheaper to not look in the mirror. Oh hell, I don’t care if I look old! Besides, my Covid mask covers up my face.

One thing I worry about is if I look too old, maybe nobody will want to play with me. I have a lot of friends who play with me now. They’re all around my age. Do young people take us seriously as we get older? Do they want to play with us if we have wrinkles? I guess if I live long enough I’ll find out.

Young women, you don’t think you will ever get old. You think you’ll look young forever. You won’t, so use your moisturizer and sunscreen and forget about it and enjoy your youth. Don’t forget to exfoliate, also. Men don’t get wrinkles because they shave and that’s how they exfoliate. I know of a lot of young women who have started shaving their face. Maybe I’ll start shaving.

I saw the actress Debbie Reynolds on a talk show several years ago. She said she didn't mind getting old. She just didn't want to look old. I think that's where we're all at.

Princess Diana will forever be young and beautiful in everyone's eyes because she died at only 36 years old. I imagine that given the choice, she would have chosen to grow old even if it meant mourning the loss of her youth.

Wrinkles are the price we pay for longevity. Wrinkles are better than the alternative.