You are welcome. I hope you like the blouse, it shows off your pretty eyes. The picture of it looked so soft and feminine when I ordered it from QVC.

You are not old. I am old. And I love it. Trust me the best is yet to come. Each year brings with it its own rewards. Yes, our looks fade. The beauty and freshness of youth is gone. Replacing it is the road map of our life experiences on our face and unfortunately the pounds of indulgences on our body.

Ahh the joy that comes with the self-assurance and wisdom of age. It is so comforting to be respected and admired for ones years of living. Also, being allowed to be a bit eccentric. I have always been out spoken. But, now watch out! I feel entitled to say anything I choose. After all I AM SEVENTY years old. The best part is the peace of mind. I have learned to love myself. I do not criticize myself and my faults. Instead, I find amusement and acceptance of my actions. I applaud myself often and have become my biggest fan. Wow! I look back on my life with wonder and amazement at my many experiences and accomplishments. I have surrounded myself with a gallery of pictures of my life. It reminds me of a wonderful map of my life experiences. When I think of the painful and sorrowful parts of my life, and there have been many. I am proud of my survival and the wisdom I have gained from these dark times. I enjoy my own company more and more each day. I often find myself carrying on great conversations with myself. Whose opinion and sense of humor do I agree with more???

I really like me. I like the kind, generous, loving person I have become. I have wonderful ethics and am proud of the way I conduct myself in life. I am a good, fair person. Yep! I like me.

I deserve to like me. I have spent 70 years working on self-improvement. I am proud of this work in progress.

I look in the mirror and am constantly surprised to see my Mothers’ face looking back at me. What happened to that pretty woman of my younger years?

I thank one of my many mentors; Sue Ohl . She stressed to me how fleeting looks were and how I should spend my efforts on developing my intelligence and ethics. She was so right. I spent much more time on reading self-improvement books then choosing a new shade of lipstick. I was blessed with good looks and it certainly did open a lot of doors for me. But, I would not have been invited to sit down and stay if I had not worked on being a good conversationalist, well-informed and able to contribute more than pretty scenery.

I do not grieve the loss of my youthful good looks. I look at those pictures on the wall and smile and say to myself; “Yep! You were a hot Babe!” I had a blast with the good looks I had. I got lots of attention from the men. Envy from the women. And at times found it a burden. I remember feeling like a bitch dog in heat with a pack of stud dogs after me. Finding the balance and being able to control this was a challenge. I only wish I had realized the power I had and had used it to my advantage. Instead of often being victimized by my sexuality. There is the payoff of being older. I am released from having to deal with those pressures. I can now relax and take comfort in just being the interesting, fun lady I am. Should I say; “Old Lady”? Perhaps!

An older lady said to me; “You do not look Seventy years old, You look young”! I had to laugh, I would have hated to hear that when I was young. All I ever wanted was to be older when I was young. Careful what you wish for…..

I like being older. With each age comes its own rewards. Enjoy and embrace each year. Know you have earned the privileges and wisdom that comes with being older. Enjoy being a Grandma and a source of help and comfort to your family. And remember that glamorous Mother of yours is now old, gray, fat and full of wrinkles. And much older than you.

plus

Mary Smalley age 46

don’t forget how wise she has become.

Happy Birthday, my beautiful daughter.

You will always be beautiful to me.

And younger!

Love,

Mom