Funny you should ask. I just came back from a long trip and a lady friend of mine greeted me with a rub on my arm and said, "Hello handsome." Before that I can't remember the last time.
What's all this obsession with looks? What does it matter?
My hubby is no beauty queen. He has scoliokyphosis of the spine, bent shanks, hair growing out of his nostrils and ears, is gnomishly small, and looks like a cross between Gollum and Woody Allen. He also stinks of old-man-smell. I have no idea what that smell is caused by, but I smelt it many times while working in aged care, and now he has it. I imagine it's what happens when the testosterone falls below some critical threshold.
But despite all this, I still love his face and he is dear to me.
What should one do in a situation like this? Should I tell him how handsome he is, irrespective of how I really feel? Personally, I'm inclined to think that honesty in a relationship is far more important to its success that flattery.
I would love him to think me beautiful and attractive in his eyes - but that would be madness. And if he did, I'd soon start to question his motives. His aging balls no longer provide him with the libido to enable him to find anyone sexually attractive. His aging eyes have trouble reading a road sign, let alone a face. Which is probably a good thing, since I'm wrinkly, slightly overweight, have five front teeth missing when not wearing dentures, and I wear glasses.
Love in old age is about loving the beauty of the inner person - and at least in that way, he and I each feel very lucky to have each other.
This post was edited by inky at October 1, 2018 5:55 AM MDT