Face It

A fellow I know pointed out a line in a Bruce Springsteen song that he thought captured the issues we discuss in Face It. “You’ll be fine long as your pretty face holds out. Then it’s gonna get pretty cold out.” It was interesting that it was a guy who pointed the lyric out to me. It made me think how often this message is embedded in popular culture –in songs, fiction, media. I’ve copied the lyrics  below and wondered if anyone had noticed those particular lines before. The man who sent it to me reminded me that this is not just an issue for women, but for men as well, especially men in the entertainment business. and that although Springsteen seemed to be writing about a woman in this song, he could have been thinking about himself. “They’ll use you up and spit you out,” another line in “You’ll Be Coming Down” could reflect the sentiment of aging musicians, male or female. Dealing with “coming down,” and an aging appearance strikes us all; celebs, musicians and everyday people.

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“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.”

–Sophia Loren

“Women are not forgiven for aging. Robert Redford’s lines of distinction are my old-age wrinkles.”

—Jane Fonda

This poem was emailed to me by a fellow named Mike, who asked that men have an opportunity to share their views about aging on our blog as well. The poem is by Rod McKuen. I thought both men and women might like it. Dr. Vivian

Age is Better

I have been young,
a fresh faced sprout,
with agile legs, a muscled arm and smile
to charm the world I went through
in a rush to get a little older, sooner.
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We are adding a new feature to our blog; men! We are going to include their point of view in our conversation and here’s why.

I was talking about our book “Face It” on a radio show when a fellow, Lenny, called in: “Hey, what about us guys? We feel pressure too!” He went on to say, “Do you have any idea what it’s like watching middle-aged men in the movies make it with those gorgeous nymphets?” Harrison Ford, Robert Redford and Al Pacino came to mind, bedding women half their age.

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I am fifty-six years old and just came home after buying my very first red handbag. I took it out of the shopping bag and felt the soft, rich leather in my hands. I put it close to my face to smell the delicious aroma of good leather. The bag is a small clutch that holds little more than my cellphone and keys. It is red; bright, very bright, attention-getting lipstick red. It is to serve no other function than to look attractive. As I model for myself in my mirror,  I think, “Wow, here is something beautiful I can do for myself that I’ve never done before!”

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