Thank you, Darcy! I appreciate the book references and look forward to checking them out.

I don't get a lot of this personally directed at me (I do a pretty good job of shaming myself, unfortunately). It's more that it's just so universal, some days it's just every day you look. And it's tiring.

Thanks for reading, Cristina! I'm still blogging at Mezzo with Character. Different slant. Lots of soapbox issues --- whatever interests me, really --- more about the oh-so-glam life of an opera singer, recipes, etc. I plan to do more health/fitness stuff too, eventually. :)

Karen, so sorry about your mom, but glad she is doing all right! I was so shocked to hear from Mom's surgeon that ONE IN SEVEN women get breast cancer. I know four people besides my mother who are survivors. We are very lucky that Mom's is one of the slow-moving ones, and her prognosis is very good. Thanks for your good wishes. :) Cindy

I often wonder if elementary school and junior high school bullies grow up to be high school and college date rapists. Wouldn't surprise me at all. Sorry for what you had to go through, Karen, and especially that you thought you weren't allowed to speak up. That is a sad story we hear all too often.

Hi Maria, It's a soapbox issue of mine that young singers receive almost NO education in how to start their business --- nor are they taught to think of it as a business which they must prepare for and figure out how to fund. All the folks saying "singers have to invest in their careers" are right --- but singers need some guidance in determining which opportunities are worthy of investment. The folks saying "stop whining --- you knew what you were getting into" are only partly right. A lot of young singers have NO idea what they're getting into, which is partially their fault for not doing better research, but also the fault of their educators for not providing up-to-date resources. The folks who claim that application/audition fees "weed out those who aren't serious" have no idea what they're talking about. The only people getting weeded out are those who can't pay the fee because, perhaps, they prefer to pay the rent this month so they don't have to conduct their careers from a cardboard box in the alley.

Thanks, Kim! You know, some of the most gorgeous women I've ever seen are in their 70s and 80s. My mom's BFF is one of these. She is elegant, she is beautiful, she carries herself like the woman of worth she is and by golly, she has a boyfriend too, who really wants her to marry him. I hope, and believe, that when I get to be her age, I'll be the same. It's the in between part that's kind of awkward. I really like what you say about there being more than one way to be in this body. That's the way I'm looking for. :) PS, re hair: I admire you for stopping the coloring. I don't have all that much silver yet; and if it could just go all silver overnight, I'd totally do leave it. I just don't want streaks. It looks like a bird pooped on your head. ;) DV, I never look as good in photos as I do in my head, either. Bah, humbug!

Getting older is hard on a woman ... there's a whole new list of what you are and aren't supposed to be. F*** 'em, I say. :)