My friend and I, two mature women, made a pact.
“Ronnie, she said to me, let’s promise that we will always tell each other if one of us does something inappropriate for our age. If I wear something that someone my my daughter’s age should wear, or something that looks ridiculous on me, please tell me. If I become one of those old ladies with bright shimmery baby blue eye shadow on my lids.
Please let me know. Don’t let me become a laughing stock; I always want to look appropriate for my age.”
“OK, I agreed, as long as you tell me too.”
And so the pact was sealed.
But then the world changed.
How could we have foreseen Madonna, who in her mid 50’s struts around onstage with body revealing, body hugging non-outfits? Maybe people in show business have different ideas of appropriate. But if I told you that a non-celebrity, ordinary person with a name like Heidy-Louise McGillicutty of Asbury Park, New Jersey, age 53, parades around that way what would you think?
People of a certain age who sport tattoos on their upper thighs and upper arms make me wonder; Why would anyone over the age of 50 invite attention to those flabby spots?
My friend and I each have our own versions of tattoos. They are not pictures of animals, flowers or words. They are round shaped indelible scars left by an outmoded tradition called smallpox vaccinations. They went out of medical style along with party line telephones.
And if you take a peek at the bathing suits on the beaches this summer, please decide whether there should be an age limit or weight limit allowing the wearing of string bikinis in public.
Body piercings are another new style that young folks have embraced. Even conservative executives wear an earring or two. Do they ever think about how they’re perceived? Do they care?
Won’t it be fun to see what fashions and styles the budding new generation introduces to THEM! They may be having this same rant in twenty years or so.
MorristownMemos 
Comments on: "THE PACT" (30)
You nailed it on the head, Ronnie! I totally agree. That last photo is disgusting. 🙂
I say, as long as you’re having fun, go ahead!
Never thought of my smallpox vaccination scar as a tattoo, like that very much. Love your post made me laugh out loud.
Ronnie, they say grow old gracefully and act your age…and somehow I don’t feel as old as I really am…BUT I would never, ever dress like the lady in the last shot…just too ghastly for words! 😯
Oh Ronnie, that last shot was too awful, i had to look away! But I do wear boots! With skirts. But only short skirts on the farm. My jeans always sit on my hips like my daughters! And sometimes i am sure my heels are too high but that is ok? But i never wear shorts.. ever! Oh dear i need you as my friend! Who will tell me!? c
You don’t have to worry; you always look perfectly “gotten up.”
The last shot WAS hideous, and I can’t believe anyone would go out dressed that way. Judging from her looks, through, I suspect dementia has crept into her world: poor thing….
Loved the very refreshing perspective….
Shakti
Thank you, Shakti; I appreciate your stopping by and leaving a comment.
Oh dear, Ronnie – you hit on a note, for sure. Living 20 minutes from one of Hawaii’s premier beaches, you can only imagine what I get to witness while there. Although for me, it’s having the reverse affect. Although I’m right in with you and your friend, I feel like, well, if that (fill in the blank!) makes that person feel wonderful, who am I to disabuse them of that notion? I think I’m learning this from my dear husband who doesn’t have a judgmental bone in his body, as well as the ultra-tolerant Hawaiian people themselves – who NEVAH ‘talk stink’ about NOBODY.
But I sure. do. know. what. you. mean! Arghhh …
I love your husband’s non- judgmental quality. But most of the world is not so forgiving. The scenes you witness on the beach in Hawaii might be fodder for a picture book of stylish looks…
Tee hee 😉
Ha! Oh I loved this! I have a smallpox tattoo too! Who knew? I can’t wait to tell my kids! They are never gonna look at their old ma the same! 😀
I wonder how much longer the word “taboo” will remain in the dictionary.
I often wonder how some tatoos will look in 30 years when everything goes south! lol
That’s a disturbing thought!
Ha ha–I sport one of those nasty small pox vaccination tattoos as well, though I think I was one of the last years to get it. I like to add that last part. Makes me feel less old. 🙂
“You’re only as old as you feel,” they tell me. So how are the wrinkles explained?
Guess that’s our skin’s way of keeping it real.
Oh, Ronnie…your post is so ‘today’, that I wonder what news show you stole…I mean borrowed, it from…I am now a part of the ‘sagging age group’ and I would NEVER think of adding an inked picture or group of Chinese characters for ‘soup’ to my pelican arms or legs!
Perhaps I know about such things better than you think I do!
I had a friend in college who got a tattoo of a rose bud on her chest. When she proudly showed it to me I asked her if she was worried that her rose bud would become a long stemmed rose as she aged and certain parts of her body began to sag.
Yes; she might wind up with a thorny stem in places “where the sun don’t shine,” as they would say down south. (oops; a pun!)
You are ranting one of my own particular rants and I fully agree with every word.
But the problem is that so many people feel the opposite way. They say that older people can have as much fun and should not be discriminated by their choices to pierce, tattoo or show their bodies. What do you say to THEM?
But I want that rockin’ look of Cher, Madonna and Susan Sarandon.
…and I want it for you, too. So now where do we go?
Okay you win. I’m terminating my search for white bucks and chinos with a buckle in the back. I guess a button down white shirt is sort of normal for me even though I hate it. Might as well add a tie with a stick pin.
Jw
You need some Speedo bathing suits like the guys in the Olympics wear. That’ll be perfect for your swim dates. Age appropriate? I wouldn’t know, with the fast paced way things are changing.
You’re right, Ronnie. Madonna or Cher are not role models to copy on what’s age-appropriate for adults to wear. Jeggings, thongs, mini-minis. Ouch!
I cringe when I see any one wear low riders exposing their briefs – especially when it’s an older man.
Some looks are just silly on a man or woman after a certain age.
Thanks for allowing me to vent.
Vent away! If more of us vented maybe some people would think twice…