PHOTO PROMPT – Copyright – Jean L. Hays
She hates growing old.
She’s wearing high heels and red tights under her Japanese-like white silk kimono. Large sequined sunglasses rest on her nose. Her hair should be white but it’s raven black, you can see a white halo around her scalp.
She changes her ‘mise’ at least three times a day, then goes for a walk around town, strutting like a peacock. Everybody recognizes her but no one ever talks to her.
She’s a remade 1950s Studebaker trying to look like a Mercedes-Benz sports car.
guising from herself
hiding from her fear of life
in mummer’s rags
(c) G.s.k. ’14
Linked to Friday Fictioneers
Bastet and Sekhmet's Library 
Oh, I like the imagery!
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Thanks Sue! Glad you enjoyed!
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…. still … you have to feel sorry for her ….
Great haibun here … I love the direction you’ve taken with the prompt. 🙂
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In fact, writing the haibun I entered into a sort of “feeling” as the Italians would say, with her .. very sad story if one thinks about it a little.
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Oops. I was thinking about the old lady in the gray house. Commented on the wrong post here! Just delete the other, okay?
Yes, this Edsel woman…. Tragic in her own way.
She’d make a great protagonist in a longer tale some day too.
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Ok … yes .. could create a background for her … might be interesting.
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Dear Georgia,
What’s a ‘mise’? Serious question. I like the story and the haibun and the works, just need to broaden my vocabulary.
Aloha,
Doug
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Hi Doug … here’s the various meanings: http://french.about.com/od/expressions/a/mettre_3.htm I’m using the third meaning … clothing or attire. It’s probably used more in Italian than English, although I came across it reading a book that takes place in England in around 1880.
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I can see her strutting around town with her black hair that fools no one – too sad to be laughed at really.
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Exactly … I agree with you. Brava Suzanne!
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A great story from the prompt. Sad for her.
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Clever commentary on life. We all do it, or some of it. Well done.
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To a certain degree, I think you’re probably right Patrick.
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Very interesting take on this prompt, cara…I can actually see this story come to life, une personne très marginale…love this!
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Yes she is very “marginale” it’s actually a thumbnail portrait of a lady who lives in Arco … with a little poetic license … she doesn’t have black hair 😉 …
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I figured if she had that white crown or halo made me think twice how my silver crown must look like if I grew out my roots…haha
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lol .. I’m lucky to have that nondescript brownish sort of blonde color of hair, so it looks like I’ve highlighted it with ash blonde sun strokes 😉
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I was asking my son at dinner tonight if I should consider highlights to let the grey grow out…he looked at me like I was asking him what size bra I should buy!
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Men … sometimes they can be useless. I thought that would be the way to go gracefully grey … and I liked the results. I don’t highlight anymore because after a summer of not highlighting I discovered my hair did it all by its lonesome! I was hoping to go completely grey or better yet, white, like one of my friends but it’s just not happening!
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I don’t like my steel grey…my mom and sister have lovely white hair.
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Dear Georgia,
Love the haibun and the analogy. You’ve pained a memorable image.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks .. I’m glad you enjoyed the haibun … it took me some time to figure out how to use that photograph … so I’m glad you liked it! Ciao for now … Georgia.
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Very sad and I like that it hints towards never be afraid to express yourself even if you are a studebaker with a white halo.
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Glad you found the silver lining .. most of my stories go in that direction .. thanks for commenting!
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Dear Bastet (Georgia), I love your story this week and your writings are always good. I let my hair grow out and it’s turning white – I always had brown/auburn hair so it was funny when my grand kids looked at a younger me in a picture and said – “Who is that?” So I told them that was me holding them as babies. They thought that was so funny.
I really did love your story! Enjoyed it a lot! Nan 🙂
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Thanks so much Nan for sharing this with me … I think that that aspect of the lady in the story is really kind of sad, it’s far better to accept oneself and learn to enjoy each aspect of life in it’s time. Thanks for commenting and have a great week. 🙂
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Georgia, Good but sad story. My mother used to say that as you age, gray hair softens your face. Even with plastic surgery it’s hard to hide your age after a while. It’s tragic that some people can’t handle growing older. Well written. — Susan
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It’s a common tragedy especially in this age that exalts youthfulness and physical beauty I think … Georgia
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