I took about a dozen pictures of myself this morning, hoping to capture something that doesn't exist without airbrushing and a stylist or two. It's my 43rd birthday, and I thought I'd get a snapshot of me to mark the occassion. I like to think that I'm not a terribly vain person, but I know that I am vain, if not terribly. The grey hair, I don't mind at all, and think is pretty neat. We call it silver. But, I snapped from above, below, and to the side, trying to avoid the dark circles, the jowls, the rosacea, the weird smile. I even changed shirts twice, thinking that a different color would erase or diminish imperfections. Finally, I took one more-or-less straight on, imagining I was surrounded by tiny little seahorses, and by golly, that was the one, dark circles and all. After all, I am 43.
Happy belated birthday!
Posted by: Eli | 2005.05.16 at 02:53 PM
What a terrific idea -- Love the glam shot you ended up with! I'm 6 months and a couple days right behind you, 43-wise. I love my grey hairs too, but hate myself in pictures so much that I doubt I'll have the stomach to follow your example. Happy (belated) day!
Posted by: Mock Turtle | 2005.05.15 at 11:48 PM
No midlife crisis yet, just perpetual life crisis. I'm afraid my midlife crisis car would be a vintage mid-80s Volvo 240 DL. I miss my Volvo! I wonder what a pimped-out Volvo would look like? Hmmmm. Too bad I'm too old for Pimp My Ride.
Posted by: rochelle | 2005.05.15 at 06:35 AM
Happy belated birthday. Where was I on the 12th to miss reading this.
I plan on having my mid life crisis soon, have you had yours or are you saving for the Ferrari?
Never have your picture taken before cocktails. During is fine, but never before.
Posted by: Matthew | 2005.05.14 at 08:45 PM
Hey! We're twins....
http://joy.mollprojects.com/blog/2005/05/no-cake-but-maybe-some-brownies.html
Posted by: Joy Weese Moll | 2005.05.13 at 04:44 PM
Hey Rochelle! Happy, happy birthday! :-)
Posted by: amy kearns | 2005.05.13 at 03:01 PM
Sorry for the belated wishes - I hope your birthday was wonderful!
Posted by: Rikhei | 2005.05.13 at 11:33 AM
happy birthday!
Posted by: scully | 2005.05.13 at 08:47 AM
Wow! Thanks everyone. I really wasn't fishing for compliments, but they were appreciated nonetheless. ;-) As I was taking my picture over and over again, I remembered meeting my birth family for the first time, when I was about 25, and looking at all my aunts who would have been late 40s-late 50s, and getting the first-ever inkling of what I would look like at their age. It was an odd moment, and I'm at the age where I'm starting to look a bit like them. It's not a bad thing, just a strange thing.
Shoe! Lying about your age already?! I understand the stupid factor of headaches. A couple days ago, I had a prodromal dope-head moment when I walked into the library staff room to see smoke pouring from the microwave. I probably stared at it for 10 seconds, trying to figure out what I was looking at, before I finally said, "hel-LOW! Whose is this?" The janitor turned around and said, "TURN IT OFF!" Uh, oh yeah. Smoke. Fire. Library. Books. Disaster. So, dopey me turns it off and opens the door, filling the break room with acrid, burnt popcorn bag smoke. Got hit with a sick-migraine later that night that lasted until I went to bed last night. So, my birthday was mostly defined by a migraine. Whee!
Sweda! Darling! How are ya? Long time no hear. Hope stuff's good.
Aaron, my fellow Taurean! I've had my share of Mothers' Day birthdays, too. My dad's birthday was same as mine, so there'd always be a big multi-celebration on MD's weekend. I'd like to point out that I share a birthday with Katharine Hepburn, who played the best screen librarian of all, Bunny Watson, in Desk Set.
Posted by: rochelle | 2005.05.13 at 08:24 AM
Happy birthday, Rochelle! May this be soon be the year of the Raccooncasts! Methinks a 43-year-old Raccoon will be more interesting a commentator than a 25-year-old one. - David (reminding the existing 25-year-olds that the same possibilities will be available to them in 18 years)
Posted by: David H. Rothman | 2005.05.13 at 07:36 AM
R,
Happy Birthday! I knew I liked you. I too, am a Taurus, for whatever that is worth. My big day is Saturday, and when I was born it was Mother's Day.
Congrats.
A
Posted by: aaron | 2005.05.12 at 10:39 PM
Sweda in Philly says: happy 43!
Posted by: Sweda | 2005.05.12 at 10:39 PM
a big birthday shoutout from uncle rico and the gang. i even made a weak birthday post to you on my blog, since i can't find my calling card to call you in person and tell you that you are still as pretty as when i met you in your early 30's.
Posted by: skully | 2005.05.12 at 07:05 PM
you're very cute. happy birthday from further down the age spectrum
Posted by: Robin | 2005.05.12 at 01:08 PM
Happy birthday! I don't know, your 43 is looking better than my 32. :)
Of course, I was in such a fog at the ER the other day I told them I was 26. They must have thought, Holy s!!t!
Eat a big ol' piece of cake for me.
Posted by: shoe | 2005.05.12 at 12:00 PM