[Anja]

"I learned the truth at seventeen
That love is meant for beauty queens
And high school girls with clear-skinned smiles
Who married young and then retired."

"The valentines I never knew
The Friday night charades of youth
Were meant for one more beautiful
At seventeen I learned the truth."

Janis Ian, circa 1967

I understand that plastic surgeons evaluate candidates for surgery to insure than their motivation is a healthy one. I'm certainly not sure how they go about that or what makes them qualified to act as psych folks. And I have my doubts about turning down a great deal of money by many of them.

My main concern for it would be physical health reasons.

I've never been exactly sure who I "dress" for. Certainly as a teen I dressed for male attention.

I like fun clothes and enjoy wearing them. Even more so I enjoy a comment or compliment.

Guess it would depend on the occasion and the people I was going to be with.

In my teens I would have loved to change nearly everything about my face. I suspect I've grown into it.

And the little crow's feet and signs of age aren't bothering me. Yet, anyway. I rather fancy having a bit of grey in my hair to "prove" that I have survived the many challenges of life. And some laugh wrinkles to prove that I have laughed many times.

My children are gone now
No excuse for more grey
I think it's the spouse now
Who makes me that way.

I like it! I love it!
Earned every bit of it.
A clever disguise
To make me look wise.

And if anyone thinks
That I hadn't a care
Though my life as I lived it -
Just look at my hair!