| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| westernhorse51 |
Posted - Dec 03 2006 : 05:50:48 AM
The other day I was looking at myself in the mirror, I was getting sick w/ a cold, felt terrible & looked even worse. I found a picture of myself at age 32 & started to cry. Went out to my husband, said " I used to be pretty" and cried. Now anyone who knows me, knows I NEVER feel like that, I love my age and I am NOT just saying that I really do. I never mind growing older but I do want to do it w/ some grace. ANYWAY, nothing was making me feel better. We have well water & it turns my silver hair into green-gray ugliness if I don't use a certain purple shampoo. It was ugly that night. I finally went to bed & the next morning Im reading my Bible and Charles Stanley devotional w/ my green-gray hair & still feeling bad, when I read Proverbs 16:31 "A gray head is a crown of glory" & an article about an 87 y/old widow w/ all the wisdom in the world and how she came out of all her hurts & sorrows in life. She earned her "crown of glory" like so many other women. Needless to say I felt like a shallow idiot after reading about her life and how we don't think of our elderly like other countries do. We put them in little communities w/ other elderly people like they are all different. We beep at them when they drive like turtles and rush past them at the market because they are so slow. We get annoyed w/ them because they seem so grouchy most times, well how can they not be? They have to make decisions like "do I eat today or buy my pills"? Who will shovel my walk? How do I get to the store or Dr. office? They have much to contend with. If meals on wheels can't drive due to weather or something else, chances are they don't eat that day.
They deserve much more then they are getting, they earned there crown of glory. AARP helps alot but there are still way to many elderly not being cared for & falling through the cracks. God has a plan and I feel I saw that for a reason. I have many causes in life but now this will take priority. I want to use "my crown of glory" to help others w/ "their crowns of glory".
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
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| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Dec 04 2006 : 4:11:26 PM
I think the Amish have a wonderful "system" for caring for their elderly too. I hope when the time comes that I am able to care for my mom (the only one of our parents still living) and not have her be in a home. I can understand why it is neccessary in some cases but I sure admire families who don't have to do it.
Kay..what you said about seeing your reflection in a mirror or window..I have done the same thing...it is pretty scary. I don't think of myself as looking the way I do. I don't feel this old and fat...haha
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Dec 03 2006 : 11:19:47 PM
My daughter will be 13 in March and I turn 55 next May! I have grey too and decided that I will dye my hair until I turn 60. Then it will be time for me to let it go natural. I love my age but not the grey. What I have a hard time with is when I am walking down the street, see my reflection in a window or mirror, and wonder who that fat old woman is. Then I realize it's me!
I go over and help Steve's 92 year old grandma with her finances. She lives in a retirement community but still has her own apartment, cooks for herself, cleans, etc. It is so sad to see some of those wonderful seniors sitting there with no one to visit them. We are not a society that reveres our elders. It's easier to just put them in a "home". That is one thing that I admire about the Amish -- they care for the seniors as long as they are alive.
The Rustic Cottage Etsy Shop http://therusticcottage.etsy.com
Visit my blog! http://nwfarmerette.blogspot.com |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Dec 03 2006 : 9:38:56 PM
I have not had very many greys..more as the years go by, but not alot...but I decided that I won't dye my hair. I did try two times a wash out type color and no one noticed!! (it wasn't exactly needed and it really matched well) I figure...heck, I am 48, and I am not supposed to have hair with NO grey in it now. I might not feel that way if I were totally grey, but I have a feeling I might. My mom, who is almost 68 still dyes her hair auburn. I always wonder..at what point do you stop and go grey?? That would be harder for me than never doing it in the first place I think. And I have earned every single grey hair I have..haha
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| Alee |
Posted - Dec 03 2006 : 5:39:11 PM
I am so glad you ladies are like me too! I got my first white hair at age 14! Luckily that seemed to be the only one for a while. I just recently found another. I have decided that once a few more come in I will stop dying my hair at all. I figure that if more of us women stop trying to hide the greys then little by little we can ease the societal pressure to mask any signs of aging and press ourselves into plasticy sterotypes. I refuse to have plastic surgery unless for a medically sound reason (no boob enlargments here!) I don't mind having fun with my hair color now but I dye my hair less and less each year that passes. I think I am growing out of that stage in my life.
Anyway I think we should be proud of our greys and whites. Anyone can be blonde or brunette, red headed or black headed- but not everyone gets to be grey/white haired! You have to EARN that! |
| westernhorse51 |
Posted - Dec 03 2006 : 3:22:33 PM
Julia, I know what you mean, my daughter is 15 1/2, I'll be 55 Dec. 26, I'm the oldest mom in her class but we are very close, so far!
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
| julia hayes |
Posted - Dec 03 2006 : 11:49:27 AM
I love this topic.. my first grays started when I was 18 years old and my hair has been changing ever since. It is now really streaky gray and light brown and long. I've never done anything to it but let it be and that is my philosophy of aging. It is amazing to me that a few times people have asked if I'm my childrens' grandmother! They look awkward when asking because I'd be an awfully young granny but still I couldn't possibly be their mother and this old! It cracks me up every single time..people are just so brainwashed about someone else's idea of beauty and youth. Culturally, we are so shallow in so many ways and I thank you for getting us thinking about it again!
Here's to gray and aging!
Julia Hayes
being simple to simply be |
| westernhorse51 |
Posted - Dec 03 2006 : 11:28:53 AM
Ann, I laughed when I read about you looking in the mirror. Its so funny how we never FEEL different. Sometimes my daughter & I are riding in the car w/ the tunes blasting, she likes some of the same music by Carol King, Bonnie Rait & others, I feel like a teenager cause were singing & laughing (how I treasure those moments) and suddenly, I get a glimpse & wonder WHO IS THAT PERSON?? Most times I just laugh and say it's the beautiful new & older me. Inside I'm still the same fickle, free-spirit, neurotic, caring, bohemian person I've always been, just older & wiser, thank God. 
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
| Phils Ann |
Posted - Dec 03 2006 : 11:09:51 AM
Michele, I so relate to your words. It is against our culture to believe that gray hair is a crown of glory--yes, that verse always hits hard! I was in the big Super Fresh last month when the S.S. checks had just arrived and the elderly were all over the store, obviously struggling to get around... to stay out of the way of the hurried young folks and to just make decisions about what to buy. Leaving the check out, a very elderly man sitting on a bench tried to move his legs away so I could get through. When I told him he was "fine", he sweetly looked up and thanked me. I wanted to kiss him! I hear and read about far eastern cultures where the elderly are revered, am reminded to "honor your father and mother" and feel so grieved at the total lack of respect shown here. The irony is that like it or not, that's where we ALL are headed if we live long enough.
As a woman who covered my gray until a few months ago, it is puzzling to see myself in the mirror! Who IS that woman??? Ha. I am very blessed to have a husband who loves gray hair....and it goes well with my lame foot---but that's another story.
Ann
There is a Redeemer. |
| Marybeth |
Posted - Dec 03 2006 : 08:05:35 AM
I hear ya Michele. My Mother is 90 yrs old. She is a very busy lady and never complains about life. I try to model my life after hers. I tried to raise my children like we were raised. She buried 3 husbands (I don't think she did anything to them HAHA) and she is still going strong. She still knits hats and scarves for the needy ND MAKES BLANKETS FOR NEW BABIES. sHE SAYS SHE IS READY FOR WHATEVER LIFE THROWS HER WAY. ( oops capitals didn't mean that) She says she has learned not to set herself up for disappointment.
And thank goodness our well water doesn't mess with my hair. Now if I can say ALL my wrinkles are lotsa laugh lines!!! Whew Michele, you got me on a subject I think about too.
www.strawberryhillsfarm.blogspot.com
"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
| westernhorse51 |
Posted - Dec 03 2006 : 07:23:50 AM
sorry, didnt mean to post this twice, had a problem.
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
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