Thanksgiving is soon upon us and with it people are starting to think about what they’re grateful for. Articles, talk shows, and blog posts are filled with people eloquently sharing what means the most to them.
Since I love my family so much and am so glad to have them in my life, you would think they would be the first thing that comes to my mind when someone asks me what I’m grateful for.
But no.
Nine out of ten times I will give another answer.
Though I am eternally grateful for my husband, children, friends and family, what often pops in my head first is… lipstick.
You read that right.
Odd? Yes.
Shallow? Perhaps.
I should explain that I have a very odd mind. I’m going to blame my dyslexia, but it’s equally possible that my sister’s explanation that I’m from another planet is true. The words and phrases that come out of my mouth have been known to confuse the heck out of people.
A great example would be the time our oldest, Tom, was only a toddler. We were at my parents’ house for dinner, along with my sisters and their husbands. I was in the kitchen getting something when I noticed in the corner of my eye that Tom had crawled onto a chair and was about to fall backwards.
I did not call out his name, “help”,”danger”, or any other word that most people would have used in the same situation.
I cried out, “Chernobyl.”
Thankfully my brother-in-law, also named Tom, was right next to my toddler and grabbed him in the nick of time.
As I was holding my baby and calming us both down, my brother-in-law asked, “Kathy, why did you scream out Chernobyl?”
“I don’t know. Standing there all I could think of was that Tom’s falling would be a disaster.”
“And your mind went to the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl?”
“Yes.”
After 46 years, I’ve grown accustomed to my thought process, but I’ve never really been happy how my mind pulls odd things together to make sense of the world around me.
Until now.
As I construct the intricacies of my thoughts into essays, I have found the benefit of thinking outside the box.
In my mind, lipstick really is something I’m grateful for.
Whether my lipstick is an expensive tube that feels luxurious and is packaged beautifully or a little lip gloss I picked up at the dollar store, few things can give such a lift to my spirits.
A quick look in the mirror and a swipe of the moist, creamy balm that gives my very pale complexion a lift can make even the hardest, most stressful days seems a bit better.
Pink, brown, red, even the black lipstick I had to buy the year I turned 30, all make me feel a bit better about myself.
Those few minutes in front of the mirror are sometimes the only moments I take that are entirely mine. I’m not thinking of all the things that I need to get done on my constantly growing to-do list.
Or what I’m going to make for dinner that is going to please one of the world’s pickiest eaters.
And, I’m not thinking of my daughter, Lizzy, and all her needs that at times scare the life out of me. For those few moments all I’m thinking of is putting my lipstick on straight and looking a little pretty for the day.
I love that I can have my shabbiest gym clothes on, but if I take a minute to put a dab of color on my lips, my friends think I look like I’m up and ready to face the day, when they pass me in the drop-off lane at the middle school.
What I especially like is that my lipstick ends up on the faces of the people I love the most.
Not a day goes by that I’m not rubbing off lipstick off our youngest, Peter as I put him on the bus each day as we giggle and say our goodbyes.
Or, the “lipstick” kisses, Lizzy and I share each day. I give her a light kiss on the lips and then she admires how beautiful she looks with a little bit of color on her face. Even on her worst days I can count on her smiling at that moment.
Tom, now in middle school, is not that crazy about anyone knowing he actually likes his mother, so my lipstick is no longer welcomed.
I may not relish the thought that I’m no longer his one and only, but I’m grateful that he is growing up and starting to spread his wings. I miss my little boy, but am so incredibly proud of the person he is becoming.
My husband saying “is it my shade” whenever my lipstick gets on him may be a little old after almost 19 years of marriage, but I’m grateful that I still laugh every time he says it.
I have spent years being frustrated and even embarrassed at just how disorganized my mind can seem to be.
But this year, I find myself being thankful for my ability to connect the smallest things in my life, like my love of lipstick, to those things in my life that bring the most meaning to me.
Beautiful post. It’s not at all what I was expecting, but thanks for letting me have it.
mascara does the same for me!
I love it. I know what you mean .. something small that makes you smile for many different reasons.
Lipstick is totally my must-have cosmetic! I feel naked without it!
Thank you all so much for dropping by and leaving such nice comments! It really makes my week!!!
It is the little things sometimes that really do mean the most to us, isn’t it? I remember when my dad has his heart attack all he wanted was a shower. It’s funny the things that make us feel human!!
Thanks again!! I so appreciate your support!! Much love to you all!
I love that you shouted, “Chernobyl!” Haha! I admire that you can get your thoughts out so eloquently. I am not grateful for lipstick (more mascera), but I am grateful for you and your quirky mind. 🙂
You’ve totally inspired me to wear some lipstick so I can share all those sweet moments with my loved ones too 🙂
Lipstick it is! The smallest of things making the biggest impacts… apply that lipstick like nobody’s business.
Only a mom can understand the little things that really matter for our kids – like lipstick ‘painting’ on our kids little cheeks. Awesome post 🙂
Very cute post! I love how you tied it in with your love for your kids and your husband too. So sweet.
Lipstick and Chernoble. Not what I expected but freaking HILARIOUS! Oh yes my love, I am sitting here cracking up. You win!!!
LOL
Sharon
“Chernobyl!” I LOVE this. You know what, I think we might be kindred spirits 🙂 Thanks for making me smile.
This is exactly what I’m talking about when I say you can write! You make genius connections, and when I read lipstick, it made me laugh. So true though about it too!;)
I can totally see you yelling “Chernobyl!” Love it. I feel about nail polish the way you feel about lipstick 🙂
Kathy, One of the ‘odd’ things I’m thankful for is not nearly as romantic and motherly as your lipstick. It’s not even that personally uplifting, but it is something I don’t ever want to be without…I even have a ‘hoard’ of it in my basement…TP!
Becky I would say TP is a pretty good thing to be thankful for!!
Hillary nail polish is something I did not think of! But my daughter would totally agree with you!!
I have to say Janae and Liz, mascara would be a close second for me!
Thank you all for such great comments! It sounds so trite to say they mean so much to me, but they really do!! Much love to you all!!
Strange…you would never have known that these two words trigger something in me. Two words that haunt. My two small children watched the Chernobyl cloud pass. And lipstick. Although I’ve never been able to wear it myself because my lips are too narrow and corny, I have a friend who wears a new shade every day. She makes me laugh. Even on her death bed she was applying a color to reflect her mood…. solemn. She wanted us to laugh and we all did. It was the elephant in the room…that ponderous, clumsy liquid moment that was beautiful.
kathy, i have to 100% agree with you on lipstick being a blessing!! i don’t know what i’d do without it either. and when you mentioned your black lipstick from yrs ago, i laughed. i too wore very, VERY dark lipstick at one point in my life. lol
i’m a bit obsessed with lipstick… all makeup, for that matter. i love color…even if sometimes i choose clown colors 😉
it really does lift your spirits.
and your post completely lifted my spirits.
always inspiring.
hope you’re having a great week <3
so much love to you
xoxoxo
maria
Very cool post. It went where I didn’t think it would wind up going.
Thanks. Jill from voiceboks
I LOVE this post Kathy! I too love my lipstick and often tell other moms if you do NOTHING else makeup wise slap on some lipstick it makes it look like you made an effort. I am not allowed to show affection at anytime in public to my middle schooler either. He would like people to believe he was hatched.
That post was GREAT…you totally made my day!MariaXXOO
Beautiful post, my dear! Your ability to think outside the box is so awesome, I hope you treasure it now!
This was so sweet! I love how you talked about bits of your lipstick rubbing off on the people in your life that you love the most. A cute post, but rather deep as well.
I have to say that I’m impressed that your husband would actually say “That’s your shade!” The only thing my husband does to acknowledge me wearing lipstick is to steer clear of me when I try to kiss him for fear he’ll get it smudged on him. LOL
I really enjoyed reading this post. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy!
Stopping by from voiceBoks! 🙂 Enjoy the rest of your week!
Smiles, Jenn
I love how your mind works. Lipstick. Pure genius xx
I’m thankful for my chapstick. I can’t leave home without it. I love how you used a simple act of wearing lipstick to tell the stories of what happens when you wear that lipstick. Great post.
“Chernobyl”, that made me laugh! My mind works like that too. I wish I could remember most of the seemingly to others disconnected ways my thought process works! I usually makes sense to me of course! Hope you get the RSS feed working on Triberr, you should email Dino he will help you. Sorry I couldn’t. Love ya. Lisa
I like this. My daughter is a big fan of lipstick.
My downfall are books.
And children’s clothes. I love to dress them up.
Thank you all so much for the great comments and kind words!! You guys always make my day!!
Lipstick! You’re thankful for freakin lipstick! Lol! I’m just kidding with you Kathy. 🙂 I loved this post. It was written beautifully and I can so totally relate to it. I’m sorry for my rather late comment. I’ve been unbelievably focused lately, which has allowed me to only have time to read my favorite blogs from my iPhone when we are on the go. And it’s a royal pain in the rear end to leave a comment from my phone. Anyway, I’m loving your blog sweet friend. You always make me laugh. Thank you for that. You are a blessing!
Hugs,
Rosann
Hello, thank you for leaving such a positive comment on the guest blog of my site the other week. You really highlighted an interesting cultural perspective. So I was wondering, would you like to write a guest piece for older mum. If so, please contact me via the website …. http://oldermum.co.uk/contact/. I hope you do :o).
Love it! Whatever it takes! If lipstick makes you happy, and you happy makes your family happy, then lipstick it is! Love your blog, so much so, I gave you a little award! Come see! It’s not much (and it’s not lipsick) but you make me laugh!
Kim
http://www.mytwintasticlife.com/
Well done, Kathy. My favorite line was “For those few moments all I’m thinking of is putting my lipstick on straight and looking a little pretty for the day.” Sometimes when I’m feeling really rotten, or know I”m going to have a stressful day, I dress nicer than usual. It always does the trick!
LOL! This is so wonderful! I love how quirky the mind can be. I would say that is the reason I love reading your blog. Your quirkiness in thought always seems random at first but then makes sense as your posts continue. I just love it!
See, I don’t wear lipstick. Ever. I don’t know if it’s because I feel like I have think lips or because I am so fair skinned and fair haired that lipstick is too shocking of an addition to my looks, but I don’t wear it. I once got my make up done before our wedding to see if I was going to have a professional do it on the big day. When I walked out of the appointment, my husband nearly leaped backward. I looked like a clown. Needless to say, I didn’t get my make up professionally done. I did it myself, and I got so many compliments. Which is strange, given it’s the same way I did my make up every other day, but no one bothered to compliment me then. I guess if I’m thankful for anything, it’s my hair straightener. Couldn’t live without that sucker. You be thankful for that lipstick, girl!!!!
You rock Kathy :)and congrats on being a featured member at vb.
I am more of a lipgloss or chapstick girl.
I love a great lipstick too. I like the line about seeing it on the people you love!!
CONGRATS on being one of this week’s featured members at vB!!
Funny how the small stuff matters!
I found your blog because of its name…like it!
This is such a refreshing post! I LOVE it! I think it’s probably one of the best Thanksgiving ones out there.
Oh, Kathy, I absolutely LOVE how your mind works. I totally agree about lipstick though. For me, it’s a great pair of earrings that make me feel together in times of unshowered-ness.
Following from vB!
Gina
http://www.totallyfullofit.com
Really funny! Thanks for brightening my morning!
Kathy, I can so relate to the joy of a bit of lipstick. I am a strict cocoa Burt’s Beeswax. Somehow when my lips feels smooth and shiny, it’s like they’re a reflection of my life. Everything seems brighter. Great post!
Kathy,
I LOVE YOU!! I sooo get it, the lipstick thing…just a moment when you’re not thinking about everyone else and everything else. You handle everything with such grace and strength. And now I know, it’s because of the lipstick!
Blessings,
~Erin
Cute! I’m not a big lipstick wearer – I think it’s a time commitment thing – but when I do wear it, I feel all dressed up! It’s definitely one of life’s little pleasures.
Congratulations on your VoiceBoks featured member status!
It is so nice to know that there are other people who have minds that send out information that makes sense to them and maybe not to others. I love your response.
I love your style of writing. Thanks for coming by my blog. I am following you too!
It’s amazing how you’re able to connect with little things. It shows your huge capacity to appreciate life for all it has to offer.
Maybe I should start wearing more lipstick too 🙂
I loved this post. Had me laughing and gave me a warm fuzzy feeling. Thank you for stopping by my blog(Kristy’s Place) and congrats to you as well on being a featured VB member this week! 🙂
ever played the game “if you were deserted on an island and could only bring three things…” i always think mascara and lipstick! and i can never think of the third because it would have to be really amazing for me taking up the first two slots with cosmetics. sweet post, love it!
I enjoyed this post.
I hope you have a fabulous Thanksgiving!
So this weekend was Todd and my first date since Braeden was born in sept 10 thats right. Technically we went to last years holiday party but that was short lived. I ended up thrilled that I was too skinny for anything in my closet so Goodwill is where I headed for a dress. I found a perfect black dress. So out of my comfort zone but man I felt hot. I then went to get red lipstick. This was new to me. Something I ALWAYS wanted to try but never had. I put it on that night and wow I felt like such a woman. I had such an incredible night and felt so hot and sexy and yes I must say I owe much of it to the lipstick. And I totally loved seeing the tracks of where I had been and those who I had loved on!