Monday, October 29, 2012

an 80s postcard from California


I thrifted this dream bikini last weekend, and the California weather has insisted that I wear it immediately. Take that mother nature, I'm wearing a bikini in the fall! Unfortunately, the bikini is too big for me, which is of course a tragedy of the greatest order. If anyone is in the market for a pastel 80s bikini that perfectly matches pink triangle-shaped Moving Sound cassette players, please do let me know.  I may reluctantly sell it to you.

In other more personal news, I have wrinkles on my face, lots of them. I have spent the last couple of months fretting over every new wrinkle that has taken residence upon my face.  I wish I could say that I wear my facial lines with pride, that I am beyond dwelling on such trivial matters, that the aging process and the thought of dying don't scare me, but this is not/has not been the case. While sitting in traffic or judging the quality of a photo of myself, I have scrutinized my face with a monomaniacal intensity. And since I’m not one to obsess quietly, I’ve engaged all the women in my life in the discourse concerning the wrinkle epidemic that has been overtaking my face. One friend suggested using Vaseline on my face to add moisture, which I immediately tried, only to break out like a teen after just a few nights of lathering.  Luckily noone had suggested taking a peepee rag and applying it to my face as my dad used to advise when I was a child pondering how to get rid of my freckles; I may have tried that too. I have never been one to dwell on my imperfections, so I was surprised that this obsession lasted as shamefully long as it did.  It overtook me, and it was not until fairly recently (like yesterday) that I stopped and reflected upon the damage I was doing to my Self and on how far I had strayed from being the person I want to be.  Wrinkles are inevitable, and though I have a long way to go before being Zen on the matter, one day I shall be able to say, “With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come” ( William Shakespeare).

All that being said, I ended up purchasing this anti-age cream and it did, in fact, help to diminish the appearance of fine lines, but of course no cream can erase the deep fissures created by obsessive self-criticism.

Love yourselves and each other,

Crystal Lee

*** Update to this blog post: I hope this post isn’t perceived as grossly inappropriate given the aftermath of Sandy in the East Coast. Sorry if I did offend anyone. I certainly wasn’t expecting such a tragedy. What is most saddening to me about a natural disaster of this magnitude is the loss of life. It leads me to reflect on Katrina, which was far more deadly, killing nearly 2000 people in Louisiana and Mississippi. My thoughts and prayers go out to those who have suffered,  and especially to the families who have lost loved ones.    

11 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. You look beautiful! Wrinkles or no, you rock that pastel bikini.

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  3. You look awesome, totally killer.It's so depressing that we feel the need to fret over lines on our faces,I know I do. But you look gorgeous anyways xx

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    1. Thanks. It is ridiculous what we women put ourselves through. My boyfriend doesn't think twice about any wrinkles on his face & I imagine most men don't either. But eventually I intend to act like a man in this regard.

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  4. What a wonderfully honest post. Every time I see you I think you are honestly such an incredible, natural beauty. And you are SMOKIN HOT in that bikini. I've got grey hair, cellulite and wrinkles and I'm getting pouchy under the eyes and a bit crepey on the neck... and I have never felt better about myself or been more confident. Perverse huh! I hope you hear me - you are BEAUTIFUL.

    Sarah xxx

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    1. You are so kind, Sarah. You have every reason to feel confident and happy with yourself. Likewise, I need to work on being kind to myself no matter what the aging processes does to me on the outside.

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  5. Seriously, if that eensy-teensy bikini were too BIG for me, wrinkles would be the last thing on my mind. :) I've been following your blog for a long time and love it. You are one of the most fun, least pretentious fashion bloggers out there . . . not to mention that you always look amazing! And I've always found it hard to believe that you are in your thirties!

    So I guess it just goes to show -- aging ain't easy for nobody, no how, now way.

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    1. Thanks for being a long time follower; that means a lot to me. and thanks for the compliment.

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  6. wrinkles shmrinkles! hello fabulous body and the raddest bikini ever! wrinkles are inevitable. as is grey hair. i say let em shine! you can't fight it, well unless you get botox...but i have a feeling you're not that kind of gal ;D

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