Into the Arms of Morpheus(8)

plus, the internet strikes again

Welcome readers, old and new!

Please hit that ❤️ above for another take on what it means to be a mature person.

And speaking of aging, a certain old lady of my acquaintance—all right, me—was recently bombarded by a sh*tstorm of internet anger after Allure published a story I wrote about the advanced age of female nominees and winners at this year’s Golden Globe awards.

The sh*tstorm experience wasn’t new to me. After my byline appeared in The Cut a while ago under the headline, “Was Pamela Anderson’s Makeup-Free Fashion Week Just a Stunt?” I noticed a faint rumbling of discontent on Instagram, which soon exploded into an overwhelming stink of rage aimed at me for doubting the nobility of Anderson’s intentions. Haters gonna hate, I thought. But the vicious reek of the comments blew me away.

This time, I suggested Big Dick Energy should make room for the Old Lady Energy flexing its toned muscles at the Golden Globes. Who knew there’d be so many people offended by the phrase “old lady?” But reading through the comments—an addictive activity best avoided—I noticed most of the commenters seemed to be young ladies who felt attacked by the notion that their idols, between the ages of 50- and 80-something, might be called “old.” Why?

Because to them “old” is an insult. How dare I call a woman old who looks as vibrant and youthful as Demi Moore does at 62? Anti-aging advocates, unite! You can read my response to the gaseous comments here. I hope I’ve cleared the air.

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There seem to be a couple of unlikely themes to this week’s post. The Whoopie Cushion I bought for my granddaughter, M, for the holidays broke after just a couple of uses. But I did have fun pretending to be a “fine old lady” simpering over to a seat for a cup of tea.

“Here, you can relax on this comfortable cushion,” offered M with a kind gesture.

“Why, thank you, lovely Miss,” I said, before slowly lowering myself onto the chair.

If this is what six-year-old humor is, I want more of it.

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Last summer, an NPR reporter visiting Tokyo interviewed me about my experience living abroad (as I do for almost half the year); you can listen to the story here.

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And you can read my recent comments about… well, everything at Debbie Weil’s Substack [B]Old Age here.

Finally, a reader wonders if the pricey treatment her dermatologist recommends will actually benefit her skin.

HNTFUYF is a payola-free, reader-supported zone. I get no cut from sales when I mention a product. My recommendations are offered without obligation, making HNTFUYF one of the very few places where you can get unadulterated beauty advice.

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