I Feel Pretty

I didn’t grow up feeling pretty. In the era of Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton, I was too short, liked food too much. I wasn’t “obese” but I was chubby enough that boys skimmed their eyes over me but fastened them upon my taller, willowy, friends who also were more confident. Who knew how to act around boys.

But that’s the past. I came to accept I was who I was, that I would never be taller, never have an Audrey Hepburn body. Especially as I entered my 60s, and R isn’t into glamorous parties or dances, I adopted a style of dressing neatly, comfortably, occasionally colorfully (have never forgotten what my seasonal colors are.)

Which leads me to this picture.

R took this photo last night. I saw this dress on a mannequin in Southampton last week. Loved it. I tried it on and, unlike so many dresses I tried on at R’s urging (he had this idea of my being more “classical”), it fit me really well. Concealed my lumps and bumps and it is so comfortable. And, yes, I feel pretty in it. He also insisted I buy yellow shoes. So voila, yellow shoes. I can’t walk a lot in them because of my bad back but all in all I really like the outfit.

Speaking of backs, I actually went to two exercise classes yesterday and am up for more today. There is a yoga stretch class at 7 am in the big ballroom. I was surprised to see so many people there but there was still room for each of us with our mats. Some of the stretches were difficult for me—I can’t touch my toes, can barely touch my calves. But I did feel less coiled up by the end of the 30 minutes. 

Afterward I got a cup of tea and sat in the elegant lounge reading my book until it was time for the RADA workshop on storytelling. What a hoot! They warmed us by having us do silly body exercises—us walking around while they shouted instructions “touch your head, touch your bum, now when we say bum we really mean head, stop means go...” Once we had all relaxed and were laughing and joking, they had us break into groups and tell anecdotes to each other. The 50 minutes flew by; I am looking forward to the next session! 

I wandered around the main deck for awhile then I grabbed a sandwich and then went to a lecture on American-British relations given by a former US ambassador. It was very good although I fought to stay awake. Although the ship’s clocks move backward one hour every night, I am still on Greenwich Time. And so we get up really early. 

After the lecture ended at 1:15 pm, went back to our room, where R was already fast asleep. The walk had woken me up so I read more of the mystery I’ve borrowed from the ship’s library. At 2:00 I went to Zumba and was so happy to find I got right into the rhythm and, again, time flew by as we danced our hearts out. The session was 45 minutes but there was plenty of “rest” between songs. I am looking forward to resuming the Zumba classes at Winterhaven when I get back.

I caught a quick performance of a scene from Wilde’s “Ideal Husband” in the lobby. Very good for a quick scene. 

I had every good intention of going to the dance performance at 8:45 last night but after dressing up for dinner and having a long and interesting conversation with the Ontario family who are at the table next to us in the dining room, I was pooped! So we watched a program on the Concorde—a lecture we had missed that day—and then went to bed.

Life on a ship is what you want it to be. If you want quiet, there are many lounges and nooks you can find or, if you want to be completely alone, there is always the sofa in your stateroom. If you want things to do, there are SO many, from exercise classes, lectures, group meetings, musical performances, even one class today called “vegetable carving.” The Queen Mary isn’t a “party ship” although there are discos and karaoke late in the evening, well away from the cabins. And there aren’t many children on board although there are some and there is apparently a children’s program, babysitting, night nursery.... 

Yes, there are over 2000 people on board so, yes, it can be a bit overwhelming. Especially at the cafe buffet at lunchtime where most people tend to go, eschewing the fancy food at the dining room. But all in all it IS my cup of tea for travel. No luggage for an entire week, no cooking, do what you want to do.... Be whoever you want to be. And it is climate controlled too. No having to go out in the Arizona heat or in the rain.