Prompt #3 - My Physical Self

Prompt #3 (September 14, 2013) My Physical Self

This is a topic I do not like. My appearance is not something I care to spend much time on, beyond basic cleanliness. I have a broad back and very square shoulders. I carry my excess weight mostly in front, below the waist. I'm never happy with my hair. I like it--still brown, chin-length bob, wavy, but super sensitive to humidity, and hot, hot, hot, in this hot summer we've had. But I don't want to cut it short. It curls, and short hair, especially bangs, remind me too much of being a kid. I'm glad to be past that stage. I like hats, especially a beige cotton one I wear all the time to keep off sun and rain. Bought it at a garage sale years ago. Just toss it into the tub, it's wash and wear.

I never wear earrings and do not have pierced ears. I'm glad that I inherited from my mother a lack of interest in such things. I never wear lipstick either, mainly because I do not wish to draw attention to my mouth. I was young before the days of "braces" and thus my teeth are farther apart than the standard American chicklet smile. Lipstick always wears half-off. I have a few fillings but not many. I dread getting older and losing teeth which I will not be able to afford to get replaced.

I'm Caucasian female, 5'3" tall, 30 pounds overweight, size fluctuates, with brown hair, a small bit of grey at temples, and green eyes. I've worn glasses since Grade One (for almost 60 years) and expect to do so forever (astigmatism). Plus, I feel naked without them. I have two small scars. No, maybe three. One from exploratory laparoscopy through my belly button. (Fibroids, not serious.) One on my left breast, for a biopsy which I was later told had been unnecessary. And one on my forehead where I was hit by a stone at recess in the schoolyard in Grade 3. That time, there was lots of blood. A boy named Mervin was blamed. He was big, older, but already behind in school. The story was that boys were competing to see who could throw a stone the highest, and I happened to be standing where one of those stones came down. I always suspected that my brother knew something that he did not confess about this incident. He was there.

My hands are large, I think. With long fingers. Glove size 7. I love rings but often forget to don them before leaving the house. For everyday I prefer silver, and semi precious stones, smokey quartz, rose quartz, garnet, jade, moonstone, amethyst. This is connected to my passion for geology, mica, obsidian, tourmaline. The diamonds I have to keep in the vault so I seldom see them let alone wear them. My prize ring is a diamond band made from half the diamonds in an old cocktail ring that belonged to my grandmother. Mum had the ring taken apart--the prongs (claws?) were too worn to wear it safely--and had two rings made, one for her and one for me. Now, of course, I have hers too, which features a large solitaire with two other diamonds on each shoulder. I cannot remember if my fingerprints are loops or whorls. I was fingerprinted twice, both for the purposes of employment as a peace officer in the federal penitentiary system. I've only had a good manicure once in my life, and one other time when it got messed up as I was getting into my car. What a waste. And I probably only got the manicure because it came with the pedicure. I do like my feet. Size 6.5 or 7. Long toes. I love wearing thongs (flipflops) and slides. Maybe I should take a selfie of my feet.

Anderson Cooper, eat your heart out.