They say there is nothing new under the sun and for the most part that is true. It says as much in Scripture. Anyhow, I was thinking a lot about changes in life more than re-visiting old paths. I am currently getting over some minor illness and when I looked into the mirror on Monday I saw quite a dramatic change in my appearance. After a serious bout of laughing which caused me some abdominal pain I have to say, I finally managed to apply my make-up. I had made an appointment to see a doctor and was getting dressed for the day. I remember a movie from a few years back called Police Academy, I think it was the second in the series where lieutenant Mauser had lost his eyebrows because of a prank played on him. One of his side-kicks set about making some adjustments to his appearance and when we, the audience got to see what he’d done it was hilarious. He had eyebrows pencilled on, eye make-up and false eye lashes. At first he went ballistic but after a few seconds he smiled and said, ‘Oh, I don’t know, I quite like it!’ Or words to that effect. He certainly looked different! Getting back to my make-up I began to think of what I would look like if I changed my usual war paint regime. I do alter my make-up occasionally, depending on what I will be doing that day. I have one style I use in my working day and maybe another if I am out for the evening or at a function. I also change my make-up according to the season. Now all this is fine but I began to think of other changes I might make if I’d a mind to do so and what I would look like if I went through with them, like a completely new hairstyle, a fringe, short hair, that sort of thing. I like my hair to be long, I always have and I would never cut it short. Presently it reaches well below the shoulder line and well on its way to the bosom but it has taken a very long time to reach there. Should I cut it for any reason it would take years to get back to length. E has wonderful hair in that hers grows back quite quickly after being cut but it tends to be greasy and needs washing two or three times weekly just for that reason alone. However, I think greasy hair is often healthier despite it needing more attention. My hair tends to be dry so it benefits by not being washed too frequently, a little awkward when trying to keep it clean too! All these things are quite superficial though and we can make changes as and when we feel we need a change. Looking at my slightly disfigured face after it had swollen made me wonder how I would cope if my face was like that permanently. This is something new that I would not like to experience of course but for some people it isn’t a choice is it? It is all vanity of course and we have grown up thinking that looking good, looking perfect, is the only acceptable thing. I never leave my bedroom without my make-up on but what about the poor souls who are so disfigured that they cannot change what they look like and have to face the world as such? Beauty isn’t skin deep as we are told but that is the way most people treat it. Beauty is inside a person and reveals itself by what they say and do. Something new? This is the sort of beauty I want. I may be nice and perhaps attractive to look at but it is what is in my heart that counts.

Shirley Anne

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