Weight and Mothers

This is an observation and most definitely NOT a dig at mothers.

During my childhood, several of my friend's mothers struggled with their weight, including my own mother.

There's an old saying, "If you want to know what your wife will look like in 20 years, look at her mother." I wish that were true. I would be beautiful.

But I stood next to two friends last weekend while we celebrated our childhood and it struck me that we were the smallest women in the yard. One has birthed two children, one has birthed three. One of my mother's best jokes is she's still trying to lose her pregnancy weight -- I'm 45.

Sometimes we choose to emulate our mothers. I try. Right after, "What would Jesus do?," I ask myself, "What would my mother tell me to do?" Other times, we go to the opposite extreme. It's a little like saying, "I'm not you and you can't make me."

Adventuresome People

There must be a certain gene that makes people look at physical challenges with a gleam in their eyes. I missed that gene. I'm a 'fraidy cat. Scientists will probably discover a vaccine for it but I'm guessing it won't be in my lifetime. I wouldn't take it anyway -- I prefer to watch.

Ann Curry (The Today Show) has been broadcasting from Antarctica this week. It took approximately 10 or so tries for her to be able to go to the South Pole. Weather can change in a nanosecond and planes cannot land. She made it yesterday. She is earthy and beautiful, regardless of the situation. She looks good in a war zone or in a parka when it's 50 degrees below zero. I've never cared for her interview style -- she's a little too gushy for me -- but I sure do admire her spirit. I've watched her handle every assignment, from bungee jumping to sky diving, from flying faster than the speed of sound to whatever is thrown at her next. As someone said this morning, "If they offered to send her to the moon, she would go." I'm always incredulous at her willingness to do whatever.

I remind myself that the father-in-law was a pilot in WWII and he was shot down. He wasn't doing it for the thrill -- he did it for our country.

My biggest physical challenge is walking a dog who is stronger than I. I prefer the mental challenges.

Some things, like climbing Mt. Everest, seem absurd to me. Then I get a little perturbed when my tax dollars are used to send the rescue teams out.

My life is already an adventure without seeking additional thrills.

A Natural Beauty Day

A 70ish friend of mine refers to days without attention to hair and make-up as "Natural Beauty Days." Lucky for her, she has the skin and great hair to carry it off.

Natural beauty days are my norm. I roll out of bed and work out. Unless I have a pending meeting, I can get on the phone and computer, look up and 5 hours have gone by. (Whoops!) I'm still in my workout clothes and I haven't looked in a mirror since 5 A.M. I choose to blame this on the oldies. Unless there's a trip to the doctor or the warehouse store, every day is Natural Beauty Day.

Before hot rollers and blow dryers, women used to pin their hair in curlers during the day so they would look nice when their husbands came home from work. I'm doing my own version of this. I pop in the shower about 5 P.M. and slap some make-up on in case we decide to go out somewhere. It's not so much about vanity as much as I don't want to watch Big Daddy run screaming through the neighborhood.