Hanging On To What I Got!

So here I am...in jammies before 4 a.m. on a Friday morning...only added earrings for this photo.  At 69 years of living, I find that I'm pretty normal...some crepey skin around the neck, the cheeks beginning to fall pretty badly, fighting the expanse of the tummy,  eyes have new modern lenses, thanks to a good Opthamologist's skillful hands, and one little cheat...I had my eyelids lifted so I can read better.  I guess it's not bad at all "for my age"....an expression I abhor! 

I used to be so critical of myself...at 13 with a weight of 97, I was mortified by my hips!  Same at 22, weight 117...the same hips...but that year, in my wedding photos, the dress just skims over my body and there are no visible hips. 

Below are photos of 'then' and 'now'....Me, this morning, Me, the bride in 1969, Me the 'IN LOVE" version (65) all fit and in shape, Me - Hanging on to what I got (68), and finally, Me a few months ago in Brazil (69).

Now what is interesting to me is how I began with such self-criticism.  Then I progressed to the confidence that a loving husband gave to me until his death at an early age.  Wham-O, hit by divorce from hubby2 at 65 and things began to change quickly...photo three, I am REALLY in love with a wonderful guy - while it lasted.  Fourth photo...a selfie of my true 'senior' self.  And finally, a photo of the full-figure me at the end of a tiring day in Brazil...happy and tired (walking on a crutch a good bit from hip pain).

So the photos appear to be quite normal for the progression of age...in fact, if hubby #1 was still living, he would think I'd done quite well and be very proud of me.

But I chose a path that took me into post-65 dating...and this is a place of many unknowns!  Little did I know that I was suddenly so unattractive.  Suddenly, I meet 70-year old men whose gray hair, baldness, paunches, and sagging skin I can easily see past to the wonderful persons they have become....but....but.... who are desperate, lost, beaten by multiple divorces and mean women who took all their money and energies.  And here's the clincher:  they believe they have only ONE moment of time left and they need a Bo Derek "10" to enhance it.  '10' I'm not.  Well, just shoot me! 

So, what's a lady to do? 

[....Well I didn't write this one because I had the answer!  😘 ]