Recently, it dawned on me that something was amiss. Not able to put my finger on it and pushing it to the other side of my brain, I shrugged my shoulders knowing like all lost memories before it, it too will pop back up.
While brushing my teeth the other day it hit me. I have not been wearing make-up since mid-March. More important, lipstick.
I love lipstick. The sultry feeling of it as it glosses over my lips with each application. How empowered it made me feel just knowing there was a fresh coat right there in the front and center. Even a bad hair day looked great with a bright red coat of shine.
I’m not a big make-up gal, never have been really. I was never one to wear make-up just because. Hardly ever wore it at home. Wasn’t the gal who raced out of bed an hour before her live-in to apply her face.
Going out for a night on the town, having a night in with all my friends or hanging at someone else’s were the only times I ever wore make-up.
I kept in my purse a wallet, keys, hand-cream and a tube of Fire Engine Red. There was no need for a mirror. Yeah, I was that good.
So, over the last few months my cylinders of Island Sunset, Coral Mornings and Blaze the Day Red have sat idle. Collecting dust.
Sunday was a scheduled curbside pick-up and I blew the collected grime off one of my favorite colors, Fuchsia Frenzy, applied a coat and grabbed a mask and my purse. I was ready to shine and drove of with a bolt of confidence.
At the store, I backed in my car with such bad ass attitude, looked real cool in my Subaru. I grabbed my Fuchsia and with a frenzy added a thick coat. As soon as I tossed it back into my purse, I saw the store clerk coming towards my car. I quick snatched my cloth mask and put it on. I pulled down the visor, looked in the mirror and checked my mask.
I sucked in a lot of air right then. So much that the mask made an oval as it slid a bit into my mouth. It didn’t matter that I had lipstick on. There would be no Frenzy today at the store.
It would have been really easy to drive home defeated. Feeling powerless. I could have chucked it up to another bad day in the world. But I didn’t. As soon as my groceries were packed and a tip to the clerk given, I got back in my car, sanitized my hands and took off my mask. My visor was still down and I saw the most beautiful thing.
“Hello Gorgeous.”
I peeled out of there with attitude and drove through town a bit slower this time. It dawned on me. I don’t have to wear the mask in my car. I made sure to look at everyone I passed by and smiled the biggest smile and sometimes threw out a wave. I knew they were looking at me and could clearly see the Fuchsia Frenzy going on in my wagon.
So here it is, Monday. A mere twenty-four hours later. Yesterday may have been a Frenzy of Fuchsia, but it’s a new day. New attitude. Today, is Five Alarm Red and I have nowhere to go
Chris Writes 