You have a little spinach in your teeth.

As I was having a little "me-time" in the bathroom this morning after my shower, I noticed a few things.  I stood looking in the mirror, lifting this and stretching that, thinking... if I could only hold this pose all day.

I ran with Julie - the shaved ice magnate - this morning.  We discussed how it's nice to be in our 40's and it's important to find balance in how we view ourselves.  We must let go of the firm bodies of our 20's and 30's, embrace the softer version of ourselves, and not feel badly for desiring to be attractive within our age group.  That's the new disclaimer - "Oh, I don't want to look younger, just as good as possible while aging."

We had one of those "You're so pretty," "No, you're so pretty,"  "Noooo, YOU'RE so pretty," conversations.  We like those.

I'm an honest person, and I like to think helpful.  If someone asks for my opinion, I'll try to give it diplomatically (not always successful there) and honestly.  If I notice something askew on someone, I'll politely and discreetly tell them. "You have a piece of dried, flaky skin on your nose."  "Let me get those long, dark hairs off of your cream-colored sweater."  "Oopsies.  You missed a belt loop."

I was mortified during my "me-time" this morning to discover a giant chin whisker.  Giant.  It could have wrapped around my curling iron.  Twice.  It was dark, course and flanked by two very short, and very white whiskers.  I can understand the white whiskers going unnoticed.  I forgive myself for not seeing them, and I forgive those around me.

Because of the length of my chin whisker, it's been there... awhile.  Friends, you have failed me.  Chris, have you not felt my beard when we kiss and high five good night?

This evening the boys will go trick-or-treating with Chris.  [I'll post pictures of kids in their costumes like every other blogging parent very soon.]  My job will be to pass out candy... and maybe compare beards with the teenage boys.

Boo.

Comments

[Kate Coveny Hood]

Oh please! I finally got to the point where I just saved up for some laser hair removal. I doubt anyone noticed your ONE chin hair. But I am sympathetic. I remember my first horrific discovery of an unwanted facial hair. Of course knowing that it was genetic, I had to resign myself to my fate. Thank god for laser. That was one maintenance issue I was happy to lose.

[Corbie]

In the last month, I had this exact thing happen for the first time. I mean, it was long, and I literally was doing the math as to how long it must have been growing based on the average rate of hair growth. I still have not recovered and just writing this makes the hairs on the back of my neck (and probably the front of my neck - let's face it) stand on end.

[Connie @ Young and Relentless]

I get those too. Is it just part of getting older? What will my chin look like when I am in the nursing home?

By the way, you are SO pretty!

[Mrs D.]

lol, I'm only 29 and have had this lovely experience. Something about having children just screws up the equilibrium in our hormones forever.

[csquaredplus3]

Kate - Just a little secret... this wasn't my first chin whisker.

Corbie - That's exactly what bothered me, the "average rate of hair growth". I could have permed it. I promise to be on alert for your beard, if you watch for mine.

Connie - NO, YOU are so pretty. And yes, most of us get facial hair, and I think it will worsen when we go through menopause. Mother?

Mrs. D. - Join the club.

[anna]

LOL

I haven't found a whisker yet, but I have started to do the thing where I catch sight of myself in a mirror at an awkward angle and go, "Crap, when did I get so OLD?"

[Tristan]

You lost me at 'me-time' in the bathroom. What's that? I tried to press on, but when you said something about firm bodies in your thirties I realized that I don't have the depth of experience to relate to this post :) I'll check back for the kids in costumes. I might relate to that if their little costumed selves are trying to carry on a conversation with you while you shower.

[Sam]

I think today's thought was more about letting your friends know when they have "spinach in their teeth" but, I completely understand about slowly becoming a softer version of my former self. Let me know when you and Julie are running again. I would like to join!

[All Adither]

I'm very familiar with the chin hair that grows six inches overnight. You are NOT alone.

[vodkamom]

omg I have one that grows out of a tiny mole on my chin!!! I HATE IT!! And, why can't anyone tell me when it is growing?

Hope Halloween was fun!!

[Jannie]

I'm 44 and I think the thing with chin whiskers, with mine at least, is they tend to curl under the chin following the curve, so they do hide a bit until a complete stranger points them out.

And mine are only on the left side - what's up with that??

[csquaredplus3]

Anna - You probably haven't found a whisker because you're one of those pretty, fair maiden's...

Tristan - For the record, my "me-time" occurred at 5:30 A.M. I take care of my feminine "needs" (if you know what I mean) with an audience.

All Adither - Thank you. It's the freakishly rapid growth that catches me off guard.

Vodka Mom - My Mamaw has a mole with whiskers too.

Jannie - Hello, it's nice to meet you. I just checked out your blog - you're an interesting gal. (She's writing a musical people - check her out.) Whiskers on the left? Not sure...

[csquaredplus3]

SAMANTHA! - Sorry. I wanted to acknowledge your comment. You would enjoy running with Julie and me - we have great conversations, and you would bring the proper depth and perspective. Wish we lived up the street from one another...like we did when we were kids.

[kate]

i scrolled to the photo before reading, and then went back to read because i had to know what that photo was all about, then i re-read the post, still nothing. you must tell me. what's up with that photo?

(i totally have chin hairs too, i carry tweezers with me and one day after the adolescent boy saw me pluck, he said, sheepishly, worriedly, "mom, can girls grow beards?" i said "yes, but i'm only going for a goatee.")

[Sherri]

Oh man, I just laughed so much. I also have a chin whisker. It's always JUST short enough to not be pluckable, but long enough to be considered the start of a lovely beard.

The worst part is my hubby doesn't notice ANYTHING. For example, I spent the first 3 hours of our yard sale this morning with what resemeble dried snot under my nose. It was dried skin, but anyone who saw me from 8-11am probably thought it was snot.

I loved this post SO much. We could probably put our whiskers together and... oh jeez. In my effort to be funny, did I just write something about putting our chin whiskers together? There isn't anything funny about that, is there?

[Deidre]

My mum gets a lone chin hair which apparently I am the only person who tells her about it - but she can't find it when I am not around. It's a sneaky little bugger.



I feel like I am still recovering from puberty...

[csquaredplus3]

Kate - The photo is to convey the image of a "bearded lady" - you know, chin whisker = short trip to a beard? Make sense?

Sherri - I HATE the too-short-to-pluck whiskers. Sorry about the dried skin that resembled snot on your nose. Bad husband. And yeah, you painted an awkward picture of us Sherri. We have reputations you know!

Deidre - You're a very good daughter.

[Debby]

Hi, C, I wrote about the effect you had on me! Go back for another visit to Ellen's garden at A Girl's Garden of Menopause, November 2. You made me do it.

:}