Old Ladies And Make-up

 Old ladies are no longer sweet smiling little apple dumplings dressed in pastels. They are retired women, mostly now single and leading active social lives. Whether they have retired as homemakers or professionals makes no difference. Not all of them do Bingo twice a week, knit and sew quilts and even if they do, it's something they enjoy. How they look is quite another matter. Some say, I want to look "natural" and others say they don't want to look like painted hussies. Secretly, all of them want to look fabulous and would love to meet up with the impossible creature that will once again, turn them into someone "in love". The realists among us, know that Prince Charming of whatever form he or she is in, simply don't happen. I know because I've been there. The princes I met were old chaps who blabbed about their health problems that men are more akin to than women. They aren't the guys in the Love Mate sites who are seen sailing their boats into the wind or riding their ponies up mountainsides. They are the ones who you meet at tacky coffee shop of his choice making it clear that it's Dutch Treat. As every older woman knows, with most dates of this kind, it's "purse or nurse" the old guys are looking for. So what do you do? After a few of these hopeless ventures, you begin to truly appreciate your single life in which you make all the right decisions and do what you want to do when you want to do it. No services needing rendering. And you take a look in the mirror and say, I am doing this for myself. Part of that "myself" is to look your best because you simply want to look your best. And regardless of what your kids may think of it - never do what they tell you anyway without thinking hard first, you are not a child - go out and buy yourself a nice pile of make-up and practice with it until you look terrific. Because you're old doesn't mean you are ugly. The rest of society may write you off as over, but you know better. You know that you haven't changed a bit inside no matter what nature does to the outside of you and you aren't going to sink down into that state of mind and give up. Start with getting those eyebrows in shape and using either a razor or depilatory to get rid of the extra hair you don't need on your face. If you use a razor it's okay and no, you won't grow stubble no matter what the "beauty experts" tell you. Then buy a nice jar of moisturizer, a liquid or dry powder in the same basic shade as your face but warmer, a tone darker to contour your face and give you those cheek bones you don't have, a much lighter base for the upper brow bones and eyelids and under the eyes, some eyeshadow for the corners of your eyelids, some rouge to use sparingly and last of all, eyeliner and lipliner. Now you're ready to practice with a magnifying mirror.  Go online and find out how to use this stuff. Go strong at first and then lighten up until you feel it is just right. It takes work and never ask your friends or relatives if they like it. Your opinion is all you need.  Remember your hair. Never perm or cut your hair like a man because it's "easier to keep up". Let it grow to a nice length no matter that it's grey. Grey is good, but frizzy little curls and man cuts are bad. My ninety year old grandmother had a sign in her front hall. "This is my house and in it, I'll do as I dam please". She got tired of her daughters telling her what to do. When you get your face all perked up, go out and spend money on one good set of clothing that fits you. Never wear a size that's too tight. Cut off the labels if that bothers you and wear what hangs well. The British queen has it right and always looks fantastic. She glows, and so can you. You are a queen in your own right. You matter and make-up is your friend. Use it.