Note: I have chosen this subject -keeping in mind your post
Christmas-New Year Eve debauchery.
I have noticed with the passing years that one word crops up
more than any other. No, dear reader, it is not the negative words you are
thinking of for such advanced years as mine- cancel those thoughts at once. The
word I find spoken most frequently in reference to my age is balance. The
importance of balance in my life, my diet, my exercise program is a lecture I
often have to listen to.
The first of these
refers to the physical body. I don’t know
what you do but I personally spend hours at the pool painstakingly walking back
and forth the width of the pool, trying to keep my feet directly in front of each
other on the red line, trying desperately to not fall into the brink. Also I
attempt with varying success, the Yoga one legged stance. Then there are the
experts. My acupuncturist who feels my
pulse looks at my tongue and solemnly shakes his head and intones “eat more raw root vegetables to balance out your
yin or is it yang? My chiropractor on
the other hand, pommels my back and says “You are a mess! You are way out of
balance” and proceeds to pound me back into that exalted state. My medical doctor is not exempt. We spend long conversations
on “maintaining balance” that go like this: the vampire one: “Your good and bad
cholesterol levels are out of whack” and looking at me over his glasses-“less
red wine, Laurie, and eat more almonds.” My blood pressure is next. The doctor and I
try to keep it perfect between high and low with a balanced level of low salt, sugar
and lots of salads. There is another longer discussion on keeping my digestive
tract in balance- a high wire act of balance between fiber and laxative intake
to prevent disaster. But the physical is not the only realm of perfect
balance-oh no! There is the all important “Sartorial balance” When one reaches a
certain age this can be rather fun- there are a lot of possibilities-You can do
“frump” “ grunge” “eccentric” or “classic” or, my personal favourite, a
combination of all four with a bright scarf thrown in. What you can not do is “Vintage”.
If you bring out your sixties mini or heaven forbid, your fifties felt poodle
skirt, you will look as if you are in a time warp and look pathetic and very silly.
The really important part is the balance and listen to me carefully dear
readers, between lengths and width; for example, when wearing palazzo pants –a
favourite of women of my age, it is better to team it with a fitted short top-
not a loose one reaching below your hips-thereby emphasizing them, low heels,
and a small hat if wearing one. On the other hand if wearing a short skirt- yes
you can-even mini- the top should be loose and just no more than two inches shorter
than the mini-topped by, preferably, a favourite rather sloppy cardigan shorter
than the skirt, and sleeves pushed up. If wearing a scarf, it should reach just
to the hem of your skirt-no longer. Do
not wear high heels! A casual pair of sandals or brogues if you have nice
ankles, bare skinned if you can, and no, no socks! Boots can be worn but not
too elegant-as it looks like you are trying too hard. Maquillage is definitely
a matter of balance- emphasize either the eyes or the lips not both. Every age
has one feature that is important to deal with, and at my age it is the
eyebrows- never step out of the bedroom in the morning without attending to your
eyebrows! You will notice I do not mention
wrinkles. In a mature appearance, wrinkles, especially those earned by extensive
fun- living, complete the well balanced sartorial effect. This has been real
fun, readers, but there is more to balance- there is the spiritual and
emotional balance. As you get older this gets more challenging. The balance
between maintaining your friends gets more difficult with age and lovers- ditto-
also finding spiritual and creative space. This is the ultimate balancing act and I
advise you to start practicing it way before you reach any where near “seven score
ten”
