May Holidays and Wrinkles

It’s May Day, and my plan to hit the bank, pay some taxes, and get some cash, have to be put off until tomorrow, when Intercam will be busier as it’s Friday, but it is what it is. Fiestas are what make Mexico the greatest country in the world; nobody parties with as much heart and soul as a Mexican.

Three out of the first 10 days of May are National holidays; today, of course, is Labor Day. Cinco de Mayo, on Monday, is celebrated on the other coast and up north far more than here, but hey, it’s a day off. Then, superseding even Guadalupe in importance is May 10, Mother’s Day. Florists have been known to open long before dawn to get arrangements made up in advance, and I have walked streets around Casa Ley in the dark with the air heavy with the scents of lilies and roses. Almost every female 12 years old and up in this country will receive a flower today, regardless of motherhood status, just because. I love that. If you still have a mom, reach out to her today and send her love, and if, like me, you don’t, send out the love anyway; the energy will get to someone who needs it.

So, with all the hoopla surrounding the grand opening of the Tryst Hotel, I went through hundreds of photographs, most of them taken by the many professionals who roamed the site for 48 hours, lots taken by me – meh in comparison, and a few taken on my phone, by my request, of me by my dear friend Jerry Jones, who is a good photographer, I might add.

The subject matter at hand, however, elicited more than one shocked intake of breath. Have you ever seen your face close up from the side? Of course not; you are not a frog with eyes on the side of your head.

With my finger poised over the delete button, I stared at my happy, smiling profile and was astounded at what I saw that I never imagined I would ever see on my very own face. Wrinkles so deep, half of them sweeping from the corner of my eye up to my hairline and the other half joining the ones on my cheeks tunneling down to my neck. The lights were so bright overhead the EDGES of my wrinkles reflected the light like straight lines drawn across my face with a white eraserboard marker. I am still reeling.

I, all of a sudden, understood the keen importance of Botox and fillers and why my friend Mikel Alvarez, owner of ThrIVE Med Spa, is so successful. Who, in their right mind, wants to look like their own grandmother? With all due respect, it’s not pretty.

And in the end, is how you look so important? Well, yes and no. Yes, if you want to impress (or make an impression upon) anyone living, like maybe yourself? I saw a friend come home after having a facelift 25 years ago, and swore to myself that day I would NEVER, under any circumstances, be that vain.

Could I get used to having a single wrinkle-free expression? When I could try smiling big and wide, could I settle for the Botox paralysis of appearing serene and at utter peace at all times?

I’ll have to get back to you.