No space for vanity



I needed a bunch of photographs for some official work recently and happened to get two sets done from two different studios. One set was a faithful enough picture, with me staring rather self-consciously into the camera. The other studio airbrushed the final product presenting a new, very much improved, me. In fact when I went to pick up the photographs the man at the counter took a long time rummaging in his desk after asking me twice over, ‘Aapki hi hain na?’ (You’re sure they’re yours?). When he finally handed them to me, I thought I looked nice, way nicer than I’d ever look in real life.

The dark circles had been done away with, the blemishes all smoothed over and the skin was glowing. I sat comparing the two sets of pictures. The vain me was quite happy while the sane me remained amused. 

The son sauntered past, picked up the other one - the non air brushed one - then proclaimed, 
“You look prettier in this one.” 
“Not possible,” said I, “Look at this other one - you’ll see the difference.”
“Yeah but then in this one you look like some auntie, you don’t look ‘you’ at all.”

Which was such a valid point that the vain me threw up her hands and walked off in a huff while the sane me nodded in agreement. There really is nothing better than a tween son to keep you rooted in reality. Sigh! So I shall continue to wear my blemishes and my dark circles and the extra layers of fat too and I shall try to do so gladly because they make me ‘me’.

And I’ll try my hardest to not get envious of the yummy mummy’s because if God one day in his infinite kindness did decide to make me all beautiful, the kids would disown me.

Oh and you, you layers of fat, if you’re listening, nope I’m not giving up the fight. I’m going to keep on trying to get rid of you - just not by airbrushing - when it happens it shall be the real deal.

Picture credit: Pixabay

Linking up with Nabanita's Mommy Talks 

With Mackenzie at Reflections from Me.



And also with Mel at  Microblog Mondays.


Edited to add: This post got me the featured blogger badge at Mackenzie's at Reflections from Me.




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