My legs are not what they used to be. Though they’ve never been my best feature, they are now (perhaps) my worst. Marked by cellulite, squiggly blue veins, an age spot that looks like an overenthusiastic freckle, and a few Shar-Pei-ish wrinkles around my knees, my 56-year-old legs are showing their age. All that considered, I considered not wearing shorts this summer and sticking to capri pants or white jeans instead.
Maybe I should not subject the world to my saggy baggy thighs, I thought. Not only that, but when I went to the storage room to unpack my summer clothes at the beginning of the season, I could not find the bag with my shorts. Was this a sign? Was this a not-so-subtle message that my shorts-wearing-days were in my past? After much searching, I came to the conclusion that I simply donated the bag of shorts accidentally with another bag of clothes I sent to charity at the end of last summer. Still, in order to wear shorts, I’d have to buy all new ones, which meant I’d have to try on shorts and evaluate my aged legs in a three-way mirror in a dressing room at the mall. The thought was depressing.
I decided to buy some capri pants; but many of the new styles were extremely wide-legged. On my 5’3″ frame, they looked comical, and all the extra fabric bunching between my shins made it difficult to move around. The bucket style was even worse, billowing out between my hips and knees and cinching just above my ankles. I looked like an I Dream of Jeannie wanna-be. What in the world? I settled on a pair of white jeans that practically glowed in the dark, but at least they fit.
After a couple of wears, I realized those white jeans (brilliant though they are) were never intended for this humid, 92-degrees-in-the-shade, Kentucky summer. Old legs be darned, I hurried to Wal-Mart and bought some cheap shorts. These old legs practically skipped with joy. I couldn’t believe I’d nearly deprived myself of the freedom of sun on my knees and the feel of sun-warmed grass on the backs of my calves as I sat in the yard playing with my granddaughter.
My legs may not win any awards these days; but then again, they never did. However, they’ve supported long walks, stood patiently in long lines, helped me lift and carry my two sons and now my granddaughter. The right one survived a bad break in fourth grade, and they’ve both endured scraped knees and horrible gouges with brand new razors. These old gals have held me up. Who am I to hold them back?
11 responses to “Shorts”
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Wow, I just love your reflection on your legs! I love all your honesty and humor, but especially your last paragraph including those childhood scrapes and teenage razor gouges (same here!) Im so glad you gave in to appreciating that aging but highly functional body!!! Full disclosure- for me, it’s the arms. Elbow length or 3/4 length sleeves are the equivalent of those capris pants. But I do have a cool, breezy sleeveless number I think I will not give up.
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Thanks, Fran! You go on and rock that sleeveless top! I’m glad I gave in on the shorts. Otherwise, I may have had a heatstroke.
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I was going to comment that you need to go for the shorts, but I am delighted you came to that conclusion on your own!
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Thank you, Margaret! I’m very glad I decided on shorts. My summer may have been pretty miserable if not. The heat here has been intense.
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I agree with Fran. This si a fun SLICE devoted to all your feelings about YOUR LEGS! I just ordered a pair of capris for those days when I don’t feel like shaving my legs. Plus, I’ve been a magnet for mosquito bites lately and I’m embarrassingly covered with red marks! But shorts are perfect for playing with grandkids on a hot day! Enjoy!!
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Thanks, Sally! While trying on shorts was not fun, writing this slice was fun!
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Lori,
Never clothing police your legs or any other body part. Never let others do it either. Wear what you want. I’m sitting on my couch in a pair of linen shorts I paid a small fortune for from a tailor in Vietnam. I wore them for a doctor appointment today knowing full well the doctors mormon and probably thinks a 67 year old woman has no business showing up in shorts. I don’t care. The shorts are cute, and my husband thinks my calves are my best feature. Also, thst last line of your post is perfection. Now I’m thinking about writing a post about how I don’t dress my age. LOL!-
Thanks, Glenda! I love that your husband loves your calves. When I mentioned to my husband that I was thinking of wearing capris, instead of shorts, this summer, he said, “You mean those knickers you’ve worn before? No. You definitely need to wear shorts.” I had to laugh. Why he calls capris “knickers,” I have no idea. Anyway, shorts won out in the end.
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I’m glad the heat helped you decide to just be you. I feel much the same about the belly that held three different kids, and it will never be flat-ish. While I don’t wear clothes that show skin there, I don’t wear clothes so baggy that they hide it all. I’m learning to be more comfortable with my 60 year old self. Glad to see you doing the same!
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Lori, your slice engaged me throughout. I am glad that you succumbed to shorts. Feeling the warmth of the sun is always fun. Shorts are wonderful for summer days but so is suntan lotion. It has been very hot in Northern VA so shorts are welcomed but today as I stepped into the PT center I realized how cold it was inside. I asked the therapist to give me some exercises to keep me warm. Enjoy your new shorts!
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Thanks, Carol! I’m in Florida now, and (surprisingly) it’s cooler here than it was in Kentucky. I’m putting these shorts to good use.
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