The other day someone said to me, “Honestly, you are not bad looking on a good day, and you are smart. A little hair care, enhancing make up…” Be still my beating heart. Consider my ego massaged.
There’s nothing quite like a well-meaning friend to reinforce your already piss-poor self-image, is there? This comment now knocks one out of first place that had been residing there for decades. I once told this guy, “You have such pretty eyes!” and he responded, “And you have nice… uh… teeth?” Sniffle. My dentist would be so proud.
I come from a family that values intelligence and education above everything. Therefore the compliments I got as I grew up were always related to my smarts, and I have a rock solid confidence in that realm. Looks? Not so much. I come from a family of women, and yet no one ever showed me how to apply that enhancing make up of which my tactless friend speaks. (In fairness, I never expressed any interest, either.)
But here’s a suggestion for all well-meaning friends the world over: If you can’t say something nice…LIE. How hard is that?
[Image credit: underthebutton.com]
The View from a Drawbridge 
What well meaning friends don’t provide, someone in the family surely will. “OH aren’t you cute today… Sew some fringe on and you could be a Hippy.” I was wearing light weight cotton Baggie jeans with matching vest, and I am 71. Thanks Mom.
I have a friend whose mother says to her, “You ought to lay off the cookies, honey. It’s not a good look for you.” The girl is a size three. People have no idea the damage they can inflict with their tongue.
“…You ought to lay off the comments, they are not a good sound for you, and the only time “honey” is suitable as a form of address is if you are a bear talking to your lunch.”
YES!!!
WAHOO! right on!
Ha. I once was told by a major crush, you don’t look so bad in the shadows.
Ouch! That isn’t even a thoughtless faux pas. That’s just an attempt at insult. I hope you moved on.
Oh, baby, your typing is so sexy… I have never seen your words looking so sultry… so seductive… the curve of your ‘o’s’… your flawless spelling, the saucy punctuation… yeah… fill that page…
You silver-tongued devil, you. 🙂
yup
silver-fingered devil… since I typed it… which might be at least as good… maybe…
Well, it’ll do. In a pinch. HA!
HA!!!!!