Barefoot Bellringing

Yesterday I picked up my new glasses. They are bifocals and progressive lenses. It’s going to take some getting used to, but I quite like how they look and I love how crisp and clear things look. One drawback is I can’t see properly with them when I’m at my laptop, but I don’t spend an inordinate amount of time on the laptop so it shouldn’t be an issue.

Today I was to do some bookwork, update phone messages, and have lunch with a friend. Instead I’ve done the bookwork, had two cups of coffee and two beakers of sparkling water and feeling very, very nauseous. I’ve asked my friend for a raincheque and will head back to bed soon.

The past three days I’ve made it a priority to have a shower early in the day, get dressed and put on makeup. I’m experimenting with different colour combinations and some are lovely; others, not so much. I’m beginning to, once again, take pride in my appearance. For many years I’ve not worn makeup during Lent, but I begin to settle into what is simply laziness, that my appearance is not important.

And yet it is. I have clothing I wear for casual days around the house. I have clothing I wear for meetings in which I represent my church or the Church as a whole, the power suit, if you will. I have clothing I wear for going out with friends, not formal wear, but a dressier casual wear. And lest you think I have a massive walk in closet, I mix and match most everything. I can dress up or dress down a suit. Same with scarves and jewellery.

Spring is a great time for purging the closet of pieces that don’t work, don’t fit or haven’t been worn in a while. I try not to spend too much on any one piece, unless it’s something I love that I will wear for years. For the most part, everything I buy is on sale, and I don’t buy it unless it fits and looks good. A bonus is if I can wear it more than one way i.e. a blazer with jeans, dress pants or a skirt.

And now that the weather is attempting to warm up, it’s time to wear lighter fabrics, indoor shoes can be worn outdoors, and the heavy accessories can be put away in favour of lighter choices.

If only the temperature would cooperate and this nausea would abate, then I could actually enjoy the outdoors. For today I will likely stay in my nightwear, drink fluids, and head back to bed to see if I can sleep off whatever is unbalancing me just now.

Everyday is a gift, and every year is a mystery. I have worked for each and every wrinkle I have, and its time to celebrate coming of age, as woman in her mid-forties who is adjusting to bifocals. Thus far, I enjoy being a woman “of a certain age”.