i probably quoted her before, but the words of my husband’s ex-wife’s late mother still echo in my mind.  Two years after her widowhood I asked her how she kept occupied all day.  “What do you mean?”  She said haughtily and yet with humor, “I have a full-time job taking care of an ageing woman!”  Every year I see how true her words were.  I have endless aches and pains that demand checking and treating and even though the medical profession is occupied with treating Covid-19,   they still have time for my foibles. 

And I see that others have the same foibles.  One example that is not actually medical.  Almost every friend I have has complained about hair loss lately.  Women of various ages, various backgrounds tell me or show me that their hair is thinner, or they are getting bald in patches.  While I’m sure this is an emotional reaction to the situation, I’m sure it troubles most of them, and they spend time and money trying to figure out what to do, and how to hide it.  

me too.  when i see myself on zoom it seems to me my hairline is receding, and i spend more than my usual time in front of a mirror trying to blur that fact.  

as i used to tell my late brother-in-law – “A woman of 40 can look as good as a women of 20.  It just takes twice as long.”