Thursday, 07 March 2013
Women’s Clubs
By Lyn Burnstine
In my life, I have been instrumental in drawing people together in like-minded groups - birds of a feather, if you will. Sometimes it was a group effort but more often an individual effort - run by me as a benevolent dictator.
There were community choruses, church choirs, a formerly-married women’s support group, a writing group, coffeehouses, folk concerts, open mikes for both music and poetry, and family sing-alongs.
It all began with me organizing and running a summer play group for little kids when I was 15, in a little town that didn’t even have a kindergarten let alone a pre-school program. All of the groups that I started filled a need but can also be said to fit into the pattern of entertainment - people enjoying each other and having a good time.
So, now all these decades later, I recognize a need that all women over 50 seem to have - a need that is right there under their noses, so to speak. How about a monthly women’s get-together to help each other locate and tweeze each other’s chin hair? I’m sure we could find a way to make it entertaining.
The idea came to me as I sat in a writing group across from a younger woman who was worrying her “too-short to pluck, but annoyingly sharp chin hair,” just as I do mine.
I have about seven of those bristly little buggers and they are all on a different timetable. I no sooner get rid of one than another starts to pop out.
My daughter, in her mid-50s, tells the story of finding some that had grown to killer length, unbeknownst to her. She exploded at her daughters and her husband, “Why didn’t you tell me? How could you let me go out into the corporate world with that thing hanging off my chin?”
And that, dear lady friends, is why we need a chin hair club, the sooner the better. I’m between crops right now.
[INVITATION: All elders, 50 and older, are welcome to submit stories for this blog. They can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, memoir, etc. Please read instructions for submitting.]
Posted by Ronni Bennett at 05:30 AM | Permalink | Email this post
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HAHAHAHAHA. I am all for that.
I do have a great magnifying mirror attached to the wall of my bathroom and it helps.
Posted by: kenju | Thursday, 07 March 2013 at 05:42 AM
I thought using sand paper might work but I haven't tried it yet.
Posted by: Johna Ferguson | Thursday, 07 March 2013 at 08:10 AM
Random rubbing in the general vicinity of my chin with my husband's electric razor has removed that bit of worry for me.
Posted by: EasyDiverChris | Thursday, 07 March 2013 at 08:13 AM
too funny! Thanks for the laugh (and the truism).
Posted by: Marcia Mayo | Thursday, 07 March 2013 at 08:22 AM
I think you may be on to something, Lyn! My eyesight is shot so I need all the help I can get spotting those little buggers. Thanks for the laugh!
Posted by: Annie | Thursday, 07 March 2013 at 08:32 AM
I love it! Brilliant!
Here's my version (one of many - I'm obsessed)
In The Magnifying Mirror
Gum receding,
Hair strand wispy;
Over mouth and under nose -
Hairs: long, growing, darker, oft’er.
Blotches, pores conspicuous;
A liver spot;
Why not? Without
Permission
Signs that chip away:
Like lines beneath the lip,
In cheekbone hollow.
Ear lobe’s got ‘em, and the brows;
Vertical, crisscross or shallow,
Deep, fine:
The line!
Oh goodness.
Me!
Posted by: arlene corwin | Thursday, 07 March 2013 at 08:55 AM
My up-close eyesight has really gone south recently so I bought an 8x magnifying mirror for the bathroom because I, too, wrestle with those persistent little sprouts. It works wonders! Unfortunately, I can now see all the OTHER things that have gone wild left to their own devices! The only consolation is that my husband's vision has taken a similar turn...
Posted by: Julie Moussot | Thursday, 07 March 2013 at 09:24 AM
About the time in life when I feel as though I can master the world, chin hairs remind me just how much I can never overcome, and it's okay. Thanks for making me feel as though I'm not alone.
Posted by: wearmanyhats | Thursday, 07 March 2013 at 09:27 AM
Wow, to think you have gotten a slew of responses for such a "little thing?" But that shows it is definitely not a little thing. What would happen if we just let 'em all grow and then you could form a Bearded Ladies Club.
Perform at circuses and such!!
Who knew life could be such fun. Keep drawing us together for whatever, Lyn. Thanks.
Posted by: joanne zimmermann | Thursday, 07 March 2013 at 09:37 AM
Lyn this is a great idea. It's inspired. A great way to make "lemonade".
Posted by: Brenda Verbeck | Thursday, 07 March 2013 at 10:00 AM
This made me laugh out loud. I'd love to share it with the ladies at work.
Posted by: Candis | Thursday, 07 March 2013 at 01:34 PM
Thanks for all your clever responses. I can always count on ESP folks to expand on the joke. Of course, you realize I'm only half-joking, don't you? If we lived near each other, who knows? "Tea, coffee and plucking."
Posted by: Lyn Burnstine | Thursday, 07 March 2013 at 04:01 PM
to Lyn (Mom), the punch line to my story about asking my family about why they didn't tell me was that they all said "but we didn't want to embarrass you" so they let me go out to innumerable meetings all over the country!!!!
Posted by: Laurel | Thursday, 07 March 2013 at 05:44 PM
Totally get this one!! And I really love all the responses. It's great to know I'm not alone...or should join a traveling show. For me I have to sit in the sun to really see them..and of course I use a magnifying mirror. ....then pluck, pluck away. ((hugs to all))
Posted by: Patricia Whitney-Jones | Saturday, 09 March 2013 at 03:16 PM