Madonna is fifty years old today. Which is still older than me.
I have been reading about her iconicness and what a great example she is to all we women of a “certain age”*. She is our holy grail.
If only.
I don’t want to look like a fifty year old who looks like she could pass for forty with the proper lighting and a bit of distance (and a good photo-shopping). And I certainly don’t want to look like someone who works too hard to maintain a passing resemblence to youth because here is where the over forty female cliches come in.
- being thin is youthful (a thin twenty something and a thin forty something look NOTHING alike)
- concealer actually conceals (nothing really it just makes one look older sans proper lighting)
- dressing age appropriate (what does that mean anymore?)
I recently saw a photo of her in a tabloid at the grocery. She was being admired for her hardbody, and I will give her that. The woman is tight but in a scary cadaverous sort of way like Kelly Ripa or Sarah Jessica Parker.
If I am going to emulate something, why would it be her? She talks a good game about health and such but if you look at her face closely – the eyes – you see someone who is haunted. Running to keep pace and knowing all the while she isn’t.
anniegirl1138 
I wonder what our role models will look like when they are 80? Or will they die trying to maintain a youthful appearance? Whose mother was it that died having massive amounts of plastic surgery all at once? Some rock or sports star? Crazy!
Great points, all. You can run, but never fast or far enough to beat the clock. There is something far more sensual about a woman accepting what she is at every stage of her life and making the most of it without trying to hide behind a shield of youth.
Easy for me to say, I guess. I simply don’t have the means — or energy — to worry about it. 🙂