Monday Musings- The long and short of it
I hope you’re having a lovely long weekend. I spent eleven hours behind the wheel on Saturday, and six on Sunday…so we’re now home in California. We are safe but not unscathed. My laptop seems to have taken a nasty hit somewhere along the way home and the screen is unusable so this is being written with my phone. I’m going to Best Buy today to see if the laptop is salvageable.
Checking Out
Our long drive home from Vancouver to California was longer than ever this time. We checked out of our summer rental on the last day of August and had to stay one extra day to tie up some loose ends… so we checked into a hotel. The following morning we loaded up the car and crossed the border. Three hours later the hotel called to let us know we had left four bags in the closet. My suitcases! I flipped out. Yup. Me, not calm.
Much to my husband’s frustration, I got off at the next exit and turned around to get them. He insisted we could have them shipped, but since it was all my stuff, I wouldn’t hear of it. And since I was driving, that was that. That meant six wasted hours on the road and two cranky, exhausted adults. We ended up staying that night in the same hotel, before leaving for home.
How did I screw up so badly? We had so many suitcases and boxes clogging that hotel room, that I had “very tidily put three of my bags into the closet…and closed the door. When the bellman showed up, I was rushed, and unorganized and didn’t notice my bags didn’t make it into the back of the car. The funny thing is, I’d checked under the bed and both bedside tables before we left because I’m neurotic about ensuring I don’t leave things behind. HA!
There is more to this story, but I can’t write it from my phone like this…so stay tuned!
Anti-aging Skincare
I do want to share that I turned down yet another collaboration with a brand that uses the term anti-aging to describe their skin products. I know the SEO is great for the word anti-aging, but at what cost to the women to whom the ads are directed? Does it belittle the aging process? How do you feel about the term? Does it roll off your back? Does it bother you? Let’s peel the onion back on this one, ladies.
I buy a lot of things on Amazon and some turn out to be treasures way better than I expected. What is your best Amazon find? I’d love to hear your favorite.
Oh Jennifer, I know you’re still annoyed, but your story made my husband and I recall our many travel catastrophes. Much laughing ensued. We’re glad you’re home safe and sound!
The term anti-aging should bother me, but I’m so inured to the many small insults aimed at the aging population that it doesn’t. ☹️
One of my favorite Amazon products is Andalou shower gel, fave scent is Citrus Sunflower. It’s soooo moisturizing! It’s also cruelty free.
I love the Andalou brand!! Great point about the number of things that are aimed at us.
At age 72, I have had young people call me Dear. I have to wonder if they understand what it feels like. So, I continue the conversation and end it by calling them Dear. Now they know!
Oh my goodness! I would have driven back as well! Yikes!
I have allergic skin, I don’t use anti aging products, so I probably never give it any thought. And I know ads are photoshopped.
I use sunscreen/ hat/ IPL/ and some Botox , things I’m not allergic to.
I hope you get some rest!
My story about a delayed trip is not quite the same but still frustrating: while on an international trip, about 3 hours in, a woman went into labor and the pilot returned to the original airport! It added a lot of travel time. I guess she really wanted to have that baby in a different country!
Wow! That’s wild.
Sorry to hear about your laptop and & adventure with forgotten luggage. There are so many things to remember when traveling that inevitably we miss something. My goal is to become more minimalist and hopefully that will help!
I’m not a fan of “anti-aging” and I haven’t had much luck with these products when I do try them. I stick with things that are cruelty-free, have a wonderful scent or just make me feel good.
Hope you have a great and relaxing Labor Day!
Happy Labor Day!
Amazon doesn’t pay its proper share of income tax here in the UK so I never buy from them on principle. I prefer to support ethical businesses if I can, and small, local shops. Just a point of view.
So sorry all that happened to you. My husband definitely would have reacted the same way, but like you I would have been driving so no hesitating there as I would have turned around too!! The anti-aging phrase does bother me also. Like the other ladies on your blog I get SO annoyed that they show theses products on 20-30 year olds. What is up with that? They don’t even have an idea what wrinkles are. But you know what, in the grand scheme of things if we weren’t supposed to have wrinkles as we get older then we would stay the same forever. What fun would that be! I think each stage of life we go through is depicted in the changes in our skin over the years and all we can do is embrace who we are.
Great point Dianne
What does anti-aging even mean?! Or, the “signs of aging.” Be specific. Does your product address fine lines, spots, dry skin?? Aging gracefully is an artform, and I’m happy to have the opportunity!
Yes!! Being specific is much more helpful.
Oh Jennifer I can feel for you with the luggage you left behind. I had a similar experience. I worked for luxury resorts in Hawaii and I live on the East Coast. On my last big client trip, the taxi driver grabbed my bags from the garage…so I thought. He left the bag with all of my pretty shoes and sandals in the garage. I discovered this when he dropped me off at the airport. I couldn’t turn back because my flight from SC had to connect to a flight out of NYC to HI. UGHHH. I wanted to scream. I bought a pair of pretty, but painful sandals at the airport in HI. I didn’t have time to go shopping because I was touring with and entertaining my clients the entire time, and working In between all of that. My husband shipped my “shoe” bag through a courier service but because we were going to the different islands, my bag was always one island behind us the entire 8 days. I could not wait to jump into my Sketchers on the last day and head home. My shoe bag made it back home 2 days after I did…and I donated those sandals! What a debacle! I will never forget that one.
Ouch! Literally. That’s so frustrating.
I am also bothered by the term anti- aging and avoid buying products that advertise their brand this way. The message appears to say that looking our best is not enough, and that looking old is not acceptable. The message implies that being old is not acceptable. We can speak with our dollars and stop buying the merchandise and the message. There’s plenty of excellent cosmetic and skin care products that do not advertise this message and I thank you for finding and sharing many of them with your readers.
Great point…we do speak with our dollars!
Maybe 10 years ago, I left a favorite jacket hanging in a motel closet. I paid a pretty penny to have it returned to me. This was one of my lessons in mindfulness.
We talk about how anti-aging impacts our response to various topics. Let me add age appropriate and terms like “dear” to the list. It’s a very slippery slope if we allow ourselves to be consumed by these terms. I really wanted to school a young sales person about referring to me over and over as “dear”. I just cringe when I hear that at the store or at the bank…. My fear is that this can be where the cranky old attitude settles in and we allow it to become an obsession. My favorite phrase is “let it go”. These terms or phrases will not determine how I feel about myself.
Stay strong and keep moving forward with grace!
The term dear feels condescending to me. I do love your thoughtful comment Jan. Thank you! Let it go is such a strong stance.
Or the one I dislike so much “young lady”. I know they are trying to be nice but why reference my age at all?
Agreed!
I have a bad habit of calling people “dear”. I use this word to people who I really like. I’m a retired elementary teacher who called my students “dear” all of the time. Now that I’m nearing 70, I have a friend who gets very upset when I call her dear. Somehow, I’m going to have to change this habit.
I dislike people calling me “madam”. This is a term that is commonly used when I’m in U.S.A.
I do not like to be addressed as “dear, honey, sweetie” etc except by my husband 😁
I totally agree. Whenit someone you don’t even know it’s demeaning. My response is to call them dear or sweetie right back.
I have only one thing to say about “anti aging”; if we aren’t aging we aren’t LIVING!!!! Aging is a blessing and we would do well to remember that. (Guess that was two things.😉)
Love it! Aging is growing.
I don’t have a problem with the term anti-aging when used to sell products that were created to address the very specific concerns of aging skin, like wrinkles, crepey skin, age spots, etc.
It’s a straightforward and honest term, which I prefer to a condescending euphemism like “mature complexion,” which sounds like a denial of the aging process or like we shouldn’t mention it.
After all, the reason we want those very products is to modify or eliminate the effects of aging…they aren’t for 20-year-olds.
I am almost 69 and definitely experiencing most of the signs of aging! If I choose to use products to address these things—to “fight” the signs of aging—I don’t feel belittled in seeking out “anti-aging” products. I don’t fool myself that they will make me look more youthful—my goal is to look my best at the age I find myself.
By the way, I don’t comment very often but am a faithful daily reader and very much enjoy your blog!
Thank you Andrea. I’d love you to comment more often. We all grow by sharing.
Sorry about your extra-long journey home! Look at it this way…it made for a good read for all of us on a Monday morning!! You are not alone; at this age I am always rechecking things. As far as the term anti-aging goes, I guess I’ve become so used to seeing and hearing it that I really don’t think about it. What bothers me more is they show the product being used on a 30-year-old woman most of the time (or younger). Ridiculous! Thanks for taking time out of your busy day and Happy Labor Day!
Oh my gosh, I’d be cussing up a storm, Jennifer! I’m so sorry to read about your bags, and your laptop. 😢 I am glad you made it home safely, and I hope your Best Buy is able to help fix your screen.
“Anti-aging” is kind of ugly in its own way. My Dad only got to live until 62 before pancreatic cancer stole his earthly life, so he didn’t get the chance to “age”. I’m his age now, and I’m determined to live each day to the fullest. Yes, I’m older now, but I’m grateful for each day that I have been given. I do care for my skin (being a CA girl, skin cancer has made a visit to me) and my body, but I’m intelligent enough to know that the “anti-aging” thing is elusive and not realistic.
So sorry about your Dad and the SC. It’s a battle for sure.
So sorry to hear about the luggage fiasco. I know exactly how upsetting this can be. I also have a disaster this summer to share. I had this lovely wedding pants set to wear for my daughter’s outdoor wedding . I was sure I had everything for my outfit packed. Guess what? The pants to the set was not there! We were dressing for the wedding and no time to go get something else either. Thank goodness I had nice black dress pants to wear. The top pieces were teal . They looked fine together, but not as good as the matching pants. Good thing this was a boho wedding. I am still reeling from it, lol. Are these senior moments? Oh my!
Black pants are so very helpful! If have been upset to have forgotten the matching ones too!
Oh, no! Well, it sounds as if you two made it through undivorced, but I can imagine the turnaround and additional day caused some serious friction. Luckily you were driving and could control the agenda, LOL. Glad you made it home and hope the laptop is recoverable.
Thanks Bette
Oh my gosh, what a trip home! I’m so sorry. A calamity for sure. Glad that you made it home safely. You will never forget anything in a hotel again. Enjoy settling back in.
I find anti-aging way over used and I tend to shy away from the term…at least, it does not sway me to investigate a product further.
Oh my gosh, what a story! Not too long ago, we left our electronics three hours away when visiting family, and our son shipped them to us ($100). Before they left on the truck, we discovered part of my husband’s sleep mask had also been left behind. So we headed back, but meanwhile, the electronics were already en route. What a pain and an expensive reminder to check everything. I’m a somewhat minimal packer, even to the point of going to a laundry on longer trips, and I do think that helps with not leaving things behind. But … it happens! Glad you are home safe.
Oh wow! That is frustrating. I’m glad I went back because my prescriptions were in one of the bags.
The part that annoys me about anti-aging ads is they show models who are in their 40’s to show how great the product is, I am in my 70’s it will not work the same.
My Amazon find was crepe erase for my arms on sale so I stocked up.
Ah!!! Sounds great