Vanity

[Ann Mintz]

“You’ll probably want a nose job when you get older,” my mother used to say. When even your mother doesn’t think you’re pretty, it confirms the agonizing self –consciousness that makes adolescence a living hell for everyone. I learned to live with my nose, to appreciate my good points—beautiful hands, a long, graceful neck, unusual, dark green eyes, great skin and hair.

My eyes haven’t faded, my hair is still thick, my skin remarkably unlined for a woman my age. I do miss my neck, though, still long, still graceful, no longer beautiful. And I know that inevitably, my other vanities will fall, casualties of time.

[Ann Mintz]

I probably would not use this lead in so much but my writing teacher's husband is a wonderful poet named Hal Sirowitz whose first book is called "Mother Said." He sometimes guest teaches and he usually challenges us to write in someone else's voice. The first time he did this, I heard my mother say, "If you loved me enough, I wouldn't have to drink." This inspired one of my favorite posts. Thanks for all your comments, everyone.

I'm completely ok with the story my face tells. It's my story, after all. I did love Nora Ephron's book about her neck, though-- I so identified with it.

[Gita]

Ann, my Ann: I wish you could see some of the nose jobs that high school girls in my hometown had. You would be so relieved that you kept your own. Those new noses looked like ski jumps, all of them, no matter what the rest of the girls' faces had to tell (and I think every face tells its own story). While I have not seen those girls for mumble mumble years, I have a suspicion they didn't hold up well over time. As for your mother, after having read several of your sixes I have a rude nickname for her .

[Ann Mintz]

I think if I could go back in time, I would want to talk to my younger self and assure her that everything was going to be ok. I'm so much happier than my mother ever was......

[Jeanette Cheezum]

It's unfortunate the things that parents/friends say in our younger years. Words that stick like glue through the rest of your life. Ann with that smile and those kind eyes you are all anyone needs to be.

[Toby Tucker Hecht]

Don't you wish you could go back and have that dialogue again with your mother about your nose? What would you say, now that you are older and see her for what she was?

[Sissy Anderson]

You forgot to mention great smile, and luckily, those tend to last well into our senior years!!!!

[Ron. Lavalette]

Oh! You're that Ann Mintz! Sorry I didn't recognize you! Long time no see!

[Stephen Torelli]

I like your nose.

[Bill Floyd]

Physical vanities are indeed casualties of time (wonderfully phrased, by the by) but the personal history that adds up to your life and the creative ways you share this wisdom with the rest of us will not fall so long as we're here to read. And I will always take the time to check out a new Mintz!

[Ann Mintz]

Sandra, you are so right. I have a dear friend who is quite plain and when I look at him, all I see is the wonderful, kind, funny person he is. I never had to fear losing my looks because I never felt that was my strong point anyhow!