A bit of paint

A little smicker and a little paint makes a woman what she ain't.

That was one of my grandmother's favorite sayings. She didn't mince words. She called a spade a spade. And she always wore makeup...even if most days she stayed on the ranch.

I inherited her theory on makeup. I rarely leave home without it.

So there I am yesterday, reading a hilarious post from Mary Alice about au naturale vs. a made up face. And I thought, yes, makeup does make a difference...and I can prove it!

You see, I have still been struggling with the ear problem I developed late last August. Just when I thought I had it under control, it hit with a vengeance again at the beginning of December. Funny thing was, other than the shooting pains in my right ear, I appeared to be normal. All of my friends would look at me strange when I said I was still seriously sick. After all, I always had my hair fixed and makeup on. I looked healthy. Proof that when you want to brighten your outlook, or at least outward appearance, that some effort can help.

But it also works the other way.

The new problems with my ear also earned me daily visits to my nice German doctor for the weeks preceding Christmas. The nurses got to know me very well. Each day we would chat for a bit while I was waiting for treatment. On my last visit, I was feeling the best I had in weeks. I was happy to be finished with the IV's they found necessary to jab me with everyday and I was tickled with the approach of the holiday. I felt like I was glowing...until the nurse looked at me with concern as I was leaving.

'Are you sure you are okay?' she asked.

'Yes, my ear is much better.'

'Really, because you look like you are not feeling well.'

Puzzled, H.E. and I left the office, off to run errands before returning home. When I got into the car, I immediately looked in the mirror. Ah, yes. Now I understood. In my apparent rush to be done with the doctor, I failed to finish applying my makeup that morning. I had forgotten blush and lip gloss...two musts to make me look human and not vampire-like. And yes, that morning I did look sick...even though I was feeling better.

Grandma was right, a little paint certainly helps us put our best face forward.