SMILING
This morning when I went down for my breakfast the ladies at my table were chatting and smiling with each other, a pleasant way to start the day, I thought.
And then Celia gestured to me, "Barb, I'm glad you're here too," she said "I read something important...that you should all know." she addressed the group and stood up, " I almost hate to tell you..."
"Go on, tell us" said one voice. "We can take it,"said another.
"Okay, this is it"said Celia. She took a deep dramatic breath; "The headline is: "Smiling Causes Wrinkles." She looked around for reaction. "Smiling Causes Wrinkles" she repeated.
Chuckles went around the table, Celia was known as 'Sullen Celia' because she rarely smiled. So the news article may have made her less unhappy than it would the others.
"What about 'frowning' asked Arlene, "Wouldn't that cause wrinkles even more so?"
Celia shrugged,"The article only mentioned 'smiling' " she said blandly.
Lisa, our poet resident who had been scribbling after Celia's remarks stood and read her latest;
"My face is all wrinkled
My clothes are all crinkled
I used to be taller
But today I am smaller
My body is shrinking
And parts of me sinking.
So where are my boobs?
They are now in my shoes."
She got laughter, "I think it's good to make fun of our aging," said Lisa and they all nodded.
"But it isn't all fun.The smiling thing isn't." said Shirl.
They all silently agreed that the subject of wrinkles wasn't funny and especially not the SIGHT of them.
Over the days beauty magazines were brought in, facial exercises were gone over, face creams studied, and conscious attempts made to curb smiling...even not to smile at all. But when a week later Celia walked into one of their meetings she exploded, "Oy!" she said, standing in front of them, "I wouldn't want to hang out with you guys! You look like a bunch of sourpusses!"
With that there was more laughter and applause.
But more serious conversation was that of other causes of wrinkles. Our dental health for example and its connection to wrinkles around the mouth. The interest in 'anti-aging dentistry is large and growing.
We, of our generation, have in our youth, fallen in love and then likely married that loved one. And we remained ignorant. So girls, perhaps it's too late for us, but get this message across to our grand-daughters...finding a good dentist is as important as finding a good husband.
THE END
We, of our generation, have in our youth, fallen in love and then likely married that loved one. And we remained ignorant. So girls, perhaps it's too late for us, but get this message across to our grand-daughters...finding a good dentist is as important as finding a good husband.
THE END
