At 70, I don’t usually bother with makeup or fancy dresses.
But when my granddaughter invited me to her wedding, I wanted to feel beautiful again. I chose a lovely dress, styled my hair, and spent hours doing my makeup. I thought I looked radiant, but when I arrived, people were staring.
My granddaughter pulled me aside, clearly embarrassed. “Grandma,” she said awkwardly, “You look ridiculous. You need to change.” I felt like the ground had been pulled out from under me. Instead of staying, I left in tears.
Later, she called to apologize. She admitted she’d overreacted and said her stress about the wedding had made her lash out. I’m not sure I’ll be able to forgive her, and honestly, I feel so ashamed that I can’t even imagine showing up at any family gatherings anymore.
