As Time Goes By...Bye

Do you ever say this..."where did the time go?"  It may be trite, but it is true as sayings go.

When I was a kid it seemed that each day lasted for-ev-er. I can still remember checking the wall clock in the classroom, waiting and WAITING, for recess, or lunch, or time to go home (and watch Dark Shadows...did you?). The days would drag on and on. But. Then. There would be the weekend or school breaks...Saturday morning cartoons, Christmas and Easter (schools were not yet politically correct in the 60s), then summer vacay.  Unfortunately, those times seemed to go by too quickly.

After high school, I got a j-o-b in the "real world" and that's when the days seemed to start moving faster and faster. Then came love, then came marriage, then came the babies in the baby carriage, and whoa...each day passed so quickly, life was a blur. I remember back in the day, when we spent a small fortune on photo developing at Costco, trying capture those fleeting "firsts" and special moments in time.  First smile, first steps, first sit on the potty... to the trips to Disneyland, camping, soccer and basketball games... to birthday parties, the new minivan, running through the sprinkler, splashing in the waves at the beach, riding bikes, and numerous other memories... special times and moments that we all have.

Enter the tech revolution and thank goodness for digital cameras.  It became easier than ever to capture- - -time.  Now you can record video snippets or take ump-teen pictures and it doesn't cost a thing.  Snap, snap away!  It saved all of us a bunch of money and time developing pictures...though I think it did put the Kodak and Polaroid film out of business.  We could view our pictures on our phone, computer or even on our TV....so easy....and we could print whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted. 

**A word of advice...be sure to back up your picture files so you don't lose anything.  This is coming from a non-techno savvy baby boomer, but I do know the importance of backing up files even though I still cannot figure out iCloud (where is a 12 year old when you need 'em? I mean they seem to have all this gobbledygook figured out. Guess that's what happens when you are weened on XBox and Playstation. Any-hoo.) I digress.

Hup, two, three, four...excuse me, Father Time, can we just HALT for a minute or two? No such luck I guess.

*Intermission*

 



To quote Truvy Jones in the chick-flick, Steel Magnolias, "Honey, time marches on and eventually you realize it is marchin' across your face."

Now, in my "middle third," I look in the mirror and see this old(er) lady lookin' at me...WTHeck!?!  I think I'm gonna need some makeup tricks now more than ever!  Something to bring a little "more youthful" appearance to fine lines and wrinkles. Isn't that how the cosmetic commercials go?  I figured changing up some of my makeup would probably be the easiest way to stop (nope...cannot do that), rather slow down the effects of time.  I don't want to erase ALL of the hills and valleys on my face and body because they are evidence that I am actually living, and I'm not opposed to plastic surgery or injections, like Botox, but they can be so expensive, not to mention painful.  Why not just try cosmetics first...before cosmetic surgery right?  I think I just want to look, you know...refreshed.

*Disclosure alert: I have had a "tummy tuck" so I really do think if you want surgery, by all means do it if it will make you feel better...I know I'm happy with the results.

So my daily regimen has evolved through the years and now my makeup includes products labeled 'anti-aging', 'minimizes', 'all-smooth', and 'reduces fine lines', etc.  Plus, I also seem to need a variety of products to try and give me a polished look...more than ever before.

my makeup "collection"

To be sure, I've been pretty lucky as far as the condition of my skin. I didn't start using moisturizer each day until I was in my early 30s. When I was a teenager, and until my late 20s, I used Noxzema. It was what my mother used so it was what I used, and honestly, I didn't have any acne problems.  It must be some kind of industrial strength stuff.  I still do not cleanse my face with anything other than hand soap, and my moisturizer is whatever drugstore brand in on sale. Nothing special. I have used many makeup brands from the expensive, like Chanel, to the cheap, like Cover Girl.  Some things are worth the splurge and some not so much. The products I use now work well for me.

I'm also not out tanning like in my 'single lady' days, and I used a sunblock if I'm going to be out and about, but this is good for anyone not just us "seasoned" gals.  I do not smoke, but could definitely need to start a diet/exercise plan...stat.  It is important to take care of yourself before time really beats you up!

So now, armed with my makeup bag o' tricks, I can hopefully be ready for that digital close up when I take that next picture. Wait...what did you say??? What about looking great, i.e. younger, with high-definition resolution...oy vey. Solution on the way and one word comes to mind...Photoshop.