Thursday 10 February 2011

Passport Photos- I've Realised I'm Old!

What is it about passport photos; the stark lighting, the serious expression? Whatever it is, mine makes me look as old as my mother. Having taken the photo and viewed the result, I rushed to the mirror to assure myself that I didn't really look that bad. The trouble is, I do! When did that happen? When did I start to look middle-aged and why didn't someone tell me? The thing is, I'm one of those people who rarely looks in the mirror. I have long straight hair that I wash, comb straight and leave to dry which it does in an hour and remains as straight as "pump water" until I've slept on it. No blowdrying, no primping, no having to check it in the mirror. I also rarely wear makeup so again no need for a mirror. I guess that expains why I'm so shocked at my unvarnished appearence. Apart from aches and pains, I don't feel as old as I am- I mean feelings about things, sense of humour etc. My 15 year old called me immature the other day and sometimes that's how I feel. So the question is should I start exercising my face to chase my emerging jowls away, should I wear makeup and cut my hair short or should I just accept the fact that I've become the person my mother was when I was a teenager?
I'm not going to show you the offending photo, that's between me and the passport dept. However, I take some comfort from the fact that my youngest's photo makes her look dreadful too:



Incidentally, I heard on the radio yesterday that if you DO look like your passport photo, then you're too ill to travel. I'm going for a lie down......

3 comments:

Cathy said...

I had to laugh at this post Tammy. I am mid fifties now and feel 30 which is the age I have always felt even when I was younger...haha. I am letting my hair grow out. I went grey early 20's and have been dyeing for 30 years. Not a good idea. I read somewhere that we should not be defined by what we look like and I agree with that. I wouldn't have done even five years ago but ideas change with age. Actually I quite like my hair and it will look at lot better when it is completely grown out. I think it is great that you don't spend a lot of time looking in mirrors etc. There are enough people doing that already.

Your daughter looks like the teacher has just told her that the last lesson of the day is double maths.

Colette said...

Now that is a hound dog look if I ever saw one. My driving licence photo is AWFUL!!! and thankfully my passport has run out. My kids say I look like a tramp if that is any help. And I have to say half of that in intentional as a happy (?) single Mum I hate the thought of dressing to impress and ever bumping into Mr Wonderful (I'd have to tidy up!!). So it is down to self protection that I don't make ANY effort to look un-tramp like.

Maybe we should do a private passport photo swap and do it again in 6 months to see if we have changed. If you saw mine you wouldn't feel so bad about yours!!

Anonymous said...

I don't have any mirrors except the bathroom one to look in and I never wear makeup. So when I do see myself in a mirror occasionally it makes me jump. I have no idea why my mother is staring back at me.
I enjoy your blog - I can really empathise at time. :-)
(I don't have a blogger ID)
Hen