FREEDOM!!!

I went to visit my mother. We went clothes shopping. She tried on blouses.

My mother is 94 years old. Roughly 5 years ago, she had a RADICAL masectomy. One breast FULLY removed. Her worry? She was afraid that they would take lymph nodes and that she wouldn't be able to swim her mile per week anymore.

She lost her ability to float in water after her heart procedure when she was 90+. Somehow, she lost her bouyancy. She is sorry she cannot still swim. On her 90th birthday, she swam her usual 1/3 mile.

Anyway, we picked out some blouses, and went into the dressing room.

THAT was when I realised that my mother (in most cases) no longer wears a bra.

HELLO!! She's 94, and only has one breast. Yes, she has a fill-in, but she really doesn't like wearing it.

At first, I was bothered. An old lady with only one boob, not wearing a bra?

OK, other than a slightly uptight daughter (that would be me) WHO is bothered/offended/ or even notices?

My mother is comfortible, society is satisfied by the fact that she is covered, WHO is offended/hurt??

SHE doesn't care how she looks. She's not looking to attract anyone of either sex. WHO CARES??

I need to loosen up. Actially, if I weren't terribly self-conscious about my appearnce, and wanting to still look either desireable or at least socially acceptable, I think doing without a bra would be wonderfully comfortable!!

But I am incredibly vain. I want to think that I look at a minimum acceptable, and (if you're very short-sighted) appealing, so I will continue to wear a bra.

Sorry waistline, you aren't going to share my chest measurement just yet!

Sometimes

There are times when I just want to reach out an hug everyone in my blogmunity. Linda is flying to Germany to watch the women's world cup. Laura is buying a new condo. Cynthia's daughter is getting married. (I last saw her when she was about 10)

I've never met Linda or Michael IRL, and yet they are as much my good friends as anyone I HAVE physically touched.

Tig is celebrating her party's win in Thailand.

I once said that one of the curses of the internet is that we are now subjected to EVERYONE'S opinion.

One of the blessings of the internet is that we now can connect with everyone we have ever met (and liked) and many people we like but have never met.