Alright, y’all, tell me honestly, is there an age limit to wearing a swimsuit? Most of you sweet folks out there would probably say “Heck no, Patsy!”, bless your hearts. Well, let me tell you, there’s one person in this family who seems to think differently—and that critic happens to be my own daughter-in-law, Janice!
A week ago, my hubby Donald and I, both in our late sixties, just arrived back from our long-awaited Miami Beach vacation. It had been our first trip alone, just the two of us lovebirds, since those rambunctious grandkids took over our living room. That Florida sunshine did wonders for our rekindled romance! We felt young again, y’all. Every morning we dared ourselves to wake up at 7 a.m. instead of our usual 5, treated ourselves to fresh seafood, and took long walks along that pearly white beach, hand in hand.
One afternoon, I was wearing this gorgeous black two-piece swimsuit, and Donald showered me with compliments. We stopped for a quick smooch—the kind that makes butterflies erupt in your stomach even after all these years. Well, wouldn’t you know it, a sweet little girl skipped up to us, all smiles and sunshine. Before we knew it, she’d whipped out her phone and captured that very moment—Donald in his outrageous floral swimming trunks, and me in my trusty black two-piece. Looking at that picture, honey, a tear welled up in my eye. We weren’t teenagers anymore, sure, but the love in that picture? Pure, golden, and young at heart. I even mustered the courage to ask the little darling to send it over—a memento of sorts.
Back home, with the sunshine still clinging to my skin like a happy memory, I couldn’t resist sharing that picture on Facebook. The comments section started filling up faster than a pie dish at Thanksgiving. “You two look adorable, Patsy!”, “Couple goals!”, all that heartwarming stuff.
Then, wham! Like a bucket of ice water dumped right on my happy parade, I saw Janice’s comment: “How does she even DARE to show her WRINKLED body in a swimsuit?! 🤦♀️Moreover, kissing her husband at her age is grosssss. How UGLY she looks TBH lol! 🤢🤷♀️”
My jaw about hit the floor. “Wrinkled”? “Grosssss”? I reread the message, each word like a rusty nail being hammered into my heart. Tears welled up again, hot and angry this time. I immediately took a screenshot of the comment, and bam! It just vanished. That’s when I knew something was fishy about the deleted comment. Janice must have meant to send it privately, which made the whole thing even worse. Sneaky and hurtful, that’s what it was.
Now, I ain’t one to back down from a fight, especially when it comes to my dignity, wrinkles and all. Janice needed a wake-up call, a reality check so loud it’d rattle her perfectly manicured nails. That’s when a mischievous grin stretched across my face. I had a plan so good it’d leave a lasting impact on my critic of a daughter-in-law.
“Donald,” I called out to my hubby. “We need to talk about that upcoming family barbecue.” Donald lumbered into the living room, a half-eaten bag of peanut butter cookies clutched in his hand. I took a deep breath, deciding this revelation needed a bigger audience than just him.
“I was thinking,” I turned to Donald, “what if we invited all our family members and friends for the barbecue, honey?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Of course, darling, why not?! Let me pop a message on our family chat group right away!” he chirped and left, still smiling.
“Time for a little payback!” I whispered to myself. The upcoming family barbecue seemed like the perfect opportunity. “Oh, Janice, honey,” I smiled, my eyes twinkling, “you’re in for a surprise!” This wasn’t just about revenge anymore. It was about showing Janice, and everyone else, that a little wrinkle never hurt anybody. The payback mission was on.
The weekend sun beat down on our backyard, turning the air thick with the aroma of sizzling burgers. Laughter and chatter filled the air. It was the perfect setting, and everyone was there. Except for Janice, of course. She was fashionably late, which wasn’t unusual for her.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Janice finally stroll in, a designer purse dangling from her arm. She scanned the room, a practiced smile plastered on her face. Perfect timing. I cleared my throat, the clinking of silverware momentarily falling silent. All eyes turned towards me, the moment Janice sauntered in and sank into a chair.
“Alright, y’all settle down for a minute,” I declared, a mischievous glint in my eye. “I want to share a special moment from my trip to Miami with Donald.” I swiped through the photos on my phone until I found the one I wanted, the one capturing that stolen kiss on the beach. A collective “aww” rippled through the crowd. Donald, bless his heart, even puffed out his chest a little.
“This picture represents love and companionship that has lasted through the years,” I continued, holding up the photo for everyone to see. “It’s a reminder that love doesn’t fade with age; it grows stronger.”
“Oh, Patsy, that’s beautiful!” Janice chirped, her voice dripping with forced enthusiasm. “You look so… sporty in that swimsuit!”
I offered her a sardonic smile. “Thank you, dear,” I drawled, pausing for dramatic effect. “But not everyone understands this, you see?”
A hush fell over the crowd. Then, I displayed the screenshot of Janice’s cruel comment, blazing brightly on my phone screen, where her profile picture and name were clearly visible.
“Unfortunately,” I declared, “someone in this very room thought it was appropriate to age-shame me and my love for my husband.”
The room went silent. Everyone’s gaze landed on Janice. Her face drained of color, the smile evaporating. Her eyes darted around, desperate for an escape route.
“I want to make something very clear,” I continued, my gaze holding Janice’s. “You know, comments like that can really hurt. We all get older, and someday you’ll have wrinkles too. When that time comes, I hope no one makes you feel ashamed of your body or your love. And if you’re lucky, you’ll always have someone who loves you just the same. Because truly, love and happiness are the most beautiful things we can carry with us through life, not flawless skin.”
Janice’s shoulders slumped, her designer purse clattering to the ground. Shame flushed her cheeks. I could see the realization dawning on her face, slow and painful.
“I shared this not to embarrass anyone,” I clarified, my voice softening a touch, “but to remind us all of the importance of respect and kindness. Never judge someone by their appearance because today, it’s me with the wrinkles. One day, it’s going to be you!”
Shawn, my ever-supportive son, squeezed my hand reassuringly. Donald, standing beside me, puffed out his chest again, a silent show of solidarity.
“We should cherish each other and the love we share, regardless of age,” I concluded, feeling a surge of pride. “Now, who wants some more potato salad?”
The silence finally broke, replaced by nervous laughter and the clatter of cutlery. My point had been made, loud and clear.
The last of the guests trickled out. I was clearing the table when Janice approached me. Her eyes were red and apologetic.
“Patsy,” she began.
I stopped wiping down the counter, turning to face her fully. “Yes, Janice?”
She took a shaky breath. “I… I’m so sorry. I was wrong. My comment was cruel and insensitive. It won’t happen again, Patsy. I promise.”
A wave of relief and warmth washed over me. Hearing her apology, I knew the message had gotten through.
“It takes courage to admit a mistake, Janice,” I replied gently. “I appreciate you apologizing.”
We stood there for a moment, a newfound understanding simmering between us. Dealing with age-shaming, especially from family, can be hurtful. But here’s the thing: wrinkles and greys are badges of honor, proof of a life well-lived. Those who forget this forget that time’s a stubborn clock—it keeps ticking, and one day, their faces will tell the same story.
