Double Exposure
I started blogging at sixty.
And each year on my birthday, I have posted a new photo
There’s two reasons why I share my selfie every year:
1. Affirmation. My photos are my way of showing the world (well, a minuscule part of it) that it’s not so bad to be in your sixties. I’m not an old lady yet. I think I look better than I did twenty years ago. That’s what I tell myself anyway. Sixty is not scary.
2. Defiance. Posting my photo at each passing year says, “Screw you, Mother Nature! You are NOT invited to my birthday party!”
So now it’s my birthday (yet again).
And this year I have two photos to share.
This is the birthday when I needed to renew my driver’s license.
My husband chastised me (which your spouse would never do, right?….) for waiting until the last minute. He just doesn’t understand.
With working full-time, I am left with only Saturdays for my renewal. Last Saturday I had a seminar about nontraditional book sales. Which was excellent, especially if you have a how-to book on a subject that would appeal to state governments. (I have a novel that appeals to middle-aged ladies.) But as far as Hubby was concerned, last Saturday was late anyway. Two Saturdays ago was when my husband wanted me to go for my license renewal. In Connecticut, you renew your driver’s license for a six-year stretch. And two weeks ago, I was five days away from my hair appointment. So for the next six years, I would be carrying around an ID in my wallet with a photo of me with gray roots.
Clearly he is out of his mind.
So this Saturday was it. I fixed my hair (concentrating on the front) and put on two layers of makeup. License photos tend towards washing you out. So I wore enough blush to work part-time as a TV evangelist.
I went to AAA rather than the DMV. At Triple-A, their mission is to help you and be nice. At the Department of Motor Vehicles, their mission is…well, something else.
When it was my turn (there was a line, but not like DMV, where you stand in line long enough to have to pee, but you can’t or you’ll lose your place), I explained to the nice lady my extreme dilemma.
“I’m turning 64,” I said. “A six-year license means I have to use this license until I am seventy. SEVENTY! Do you know how scary that is? Please make me look good.” I pleaded.
She told me that the DMV rules say that you can only have one shot. But that she lets everyone have a look first, and gives them a second chance, if they want. “I just think it’s the right thing to do,” she said. This woman is a saint.
Well, my first take was pretty bad. I had those white-surrounded crazy-eyes like a few politicians I won’t name. (but you know who…)
So my helpful lady deleted that one, and warned me that she would have to use the next one no matter how awful it looked.
That really relaxed me.
My remaining shot wasn’t what I exactly wanted either. Because what I wanted was to look like Jennifer Aniston. I asked if I could have maybe four more chances, but the nice woman just shook her head.
Anyway, it really isn’t so bad. And when I am closing in on 70, I think it will look pretty good:
And here’s photo #2. My selfie.
As I’ve said before, the nice thing about selfies is you get more than four chances. I won’t say how many shots I too, but let’s just say, like every year, that I took more than one, but less than two hundred.
And I did not photoshop this. Not that I wasn’t tempted. There are one or two (or fourteen) little issues I’d like to fix.
But this is supposed to be an affirmation of how good it is to be in my sixties.
Just as is.
So here it is. As is.
This is me. I’m 64. This is what 64 looks like:
- Posted in: Aging ♦ Beauty ♦ Humor
- Tagged: Birthdays, DMV, Driver's license, Photography, selfies
notquiteold 
I think you look great! You’re only a couple of years ahead of me.
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You also keep looking younger and younger!
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I’m one of those middle-aged ladies that loved your novel. It’s nice to know that 60 is middle aged! 😉 And your selfie looks great! You did good! ~Elle
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Thanks for loving my book. It was a work of love for me. And of course 60 is only barely middle-aged!
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Happy Birthday, the older I get, the more I like the pictures I already have.
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Ha! I figure in a few year, I will be taking out that driver’s license to show it to everyone.
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Or the selfie
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Happy birthday, and you don’t look a day over 30!
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You are my new BFF.
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LOL; thanks! Well then, I also like to share my other blog with my BFFs. (https://jabeebe.wordpress.com/)
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my pleasure
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Great pics and happy birthday! I’ve never heard of going to AAA as an alternative to DMV. I don’t think that’s an option in Texas. Wish it was though. My last experience at the DMV was awful. I got there before they opened and there was already a line wrapped around the building. And it was so hot, there was a woman who seizured. Next time I won’t make the mistake of going during the summer, all the kids were there getting their licenses!
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In Connecticut – as long as you don’t need anything special – you can do a license renewal at AAA. Big improvement. Big.
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And I would say you look great!
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Thanks!
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60 is the new 35
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Certainly 40 – but on a great day, 35!
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Sixty four looks lovely! Happy Birthday 🙂
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Sixty-four is not so bad! So far, anyway. Thanks.
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You look fantastic. And happy belated birthday. I have deleted every selfie I’ve ever taken and I’m 57. I also got caught off guard this afternoon when an old friend Face Timed me. I looked awful so I walked out on the deck to show him the sunshine while we chatted because he was buried in snow up in N.H.
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Thanks… I have found that the more selfies you take, the better you get at it. And the better you look in other people’s photos too. Practice is good.
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Happy birthday, I think you look younger than your age so I’m sure you won’t mind carrying that picture around for the next few years. Isn’t it nice when you meet employees who actually care about their customer’s feelings?
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Yes, the woman at the AAA was really nice. Six years is a long time to carry around an embarrassing photo of yourself.
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Happy Birthday hot stuff! 🙂 MJ
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Thanks!
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First Happy Happy Birthday.
You look fabulous! I only hope to look so good when I turn 60 in a few years (a very few years).
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Thanks …Being in your sixties isn’t so bad… not yet anyway. Although I consider myself an EXTREMELY late bloomer.
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You have every reason to smile on your birthday (Happy Birthday, by the way), you look marvelous. XD
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Thanks! it could be worse!
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😀 😀 😀
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Happy birthday! You look great! And your license photo isn’t so bad… my sister Charlotte took one last year where she was having such a bad day that she glared at the camera. She looks like an ax murderer. IT’S THE BEST THING EVER! Muahahahaha!
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My husband’s is of the unabomber mode. My poor mother’s was so bad at age 88 that the DMV person OFFERED to take it again. “You could take it again,” my mother said, “but how would I change?”
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Nancy, you’re doing just fine! Way to rock your 60s!
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I’m just getting started!
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If you saw my drivers licence or passport photo you would absolutely love yours! Ours are good for 5 years at a time. It takes me until year 4.5 until I stopped slouching in the car and covering my face when I have to show my ID and then it starts all over again.
You look lovely in both your photos. If I was blond I might try to use yours instead of mine. 😉
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That’s easy enough to fix. I wasn’t a blond in my last driver’s license!
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In PA we can’t renew at AAA (that’s a pity). However, DMV has a few satellites where you can’t do everything but you can renew a photo ID. I didn’t wait at all. They will let you take at least 2 (I have seen a young 20 something get 4 shots — what a waste — they were all wonderful!). If you have to go to the real DMV, take your toothbrush and jammies….just saying. Your shots are wonderful. (I remember you with your hair dark and shorter and you were gorgeous then too.) Remember when 60 was the new 40? I think it’s the new 35 now!
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I feel 35 (most days)
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You look beautiful! My license photo is horrible and it always is, no matter the age I am. Happy birthday to you!
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I’ve had some horrors… and I will NEVER EVER post my passport pic.
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Your driver’s license photo looks more like a glam shot than a DMV photo! When I had mine taken last year (at 60), I had to remove my glasses (which I wear all the time), look ‘up’ at the camera, and NOT smile (I suspect this has more to do with photo recognition software vs. looking like a real human being). If someone had to pick me out of a line up based on that photo, they’d never choose me! Happy Birthday.
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That sounds more like a police mug shot than a DMV photo!
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I definitely look like some sort of escaped convict!
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In Scotland, where we visited last summer, you take your own photo with you to renew your license and there are photo booths in the grocery stores for taking them. I can’t imagine how many hours and how much money gets plugged into those things trying to get a decent picture!
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I’d would be in that booth for HOURS!
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You look great to me! Eight months ago I also said “screw it” and stopped coloring my hair. The in between time when it’s kind of brown and kind of gray was pretty nasty, but now that all the L’Oreal Preference color 6G is gone, I don’t look horrible. I have lots of gray in front and the back has no gray whatsoever so I guess it looks like I’ve purposefully given myself gray highlights in front.
I’ll be 62 this May. Here’s an odd observation on my part: once all the 6G color was gone, I started to feel older because of the gray. I know, that’s a topic I should address with a therapist, but I was shocked at the emotional hit I experienced as a result of COLOR for goodness sake! But I’m sticking to the gray. My hubby is very accommodating and says he likes it. Truth be told – he’s just glad he’s not the only one in the marriage with gray hair … but he’s still the only one in the marriage who’s losing his hair … thankfully.
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My sisters are just a little older than I, and they have both gone gray. They look fine. But I am just not ready yet! Maybe when I’m 70…. for my next driver’s license. But then again, maybe not…
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64 looks great on you! It’s so hard to get a good license photo (I have had one good one and was devastated to have to take a new picture when I renewed my license last year), but I think you’ve accomplished it quite nicely. Here’s to the next 64!
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About 20 years ago, I had a beautiful driver’s license. When I had to renew it, I pleaded with the DMV person to just use this photo again, but they insisted they take a new shot. I looked like a homeless person who stole a nice suit.
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Love your attitude. Since I’m a little ahead of you (70 next birthday!) I consider myself sort of a boomer leader into the next phase. Like you I stay fit, slim (although not nearly so fashionable!), active and engaged. Aren’t we lucky to be where we are in our lives right now? Just wait till you actually retire! You’ll love it even more.
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I cannot wait till I retire! To have time for what I like to do while I am still young enough (in my mind) to do it – HEAVEN!
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Happy birthday, Nancy! You look great! I’ve been lucky in the past to get driver’s license photos that I actually like. Let’s hope that holds true for when I have to renew it this year. Officially, I’ll be 69, not that I believe it.
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Thanks. You know, I never lie about my age. Mostly for fear that someone will say, “Man, she looks horrible!” But when I say I’m 64, people say, “She looks pretty good!”
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Happy birthday! The good news is that you look fabulous as always. The bad news is that you have fewer wrinkles at 64 than I do at 50…
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Thanks… I tell people my youthful looks is due to the combination of “good genes” and “no kids.”
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Hey, why did you post a picture of Jennifer Anniston and try to pass it off as you?
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How I love your loyalty and your lies!
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Happy birthday! You’re a beautiful 64!
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Thanks!
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64 looks great on you. Happy Birthday!
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Thanks
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Happy Birthday! I turn 60 on Wednesday… thanks for the encouragement as I head into my new decade… I could post a photo of me… oh, but, wait…. I am anonymous… You look wonderful, hope you have had a wonderful celebration! DAF
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You could post a photo but wear a mask…
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hahaha!!
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Note to self: avoid photos of self. https://birdiesiview.wordpress.com/2014/12/10/say-cheese/
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Ha! Just practice, practice, practice! That’s what selfies are for!
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Happy B-day. You look wonderful — in both.
I prefer to have my picture taken with a paper bag over my head. It saves so much disappointment!
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I need a photo imprinted with Jennifer Aniston’s face.
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You can have her face. I want her bank account.
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With those sparkling eyes and that smile you’ll always look great.
How nice you have a choice of places to renew….everyone at the DMV ends up looking like a mug shot. No need to hide your picture – it’s very good.
Happy Birthday and onward!
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Thanks – As Mark Twain said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.”
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Happy Birthday! I would be proud to be carded, if I were you. 🙂 Last time I renewed, I had to do a driving test with a ride-along instructor. Oi vey! When I got to the photo, the backdrop exactly matched the shade of my blouse…can you say floating head? I was a little frazzled. I texted the photo to my daughter. Her response, and I quote, was “I’m ready for my close up, Mr. DeMille.” I was impressed she could quote such a movie classic, but I still wanted to smack her. LOL
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There were some people getting their renewal comfortable enough to leave their parka on! While I dropped my coat and purse, and fixed my lipstick…
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I think you look great. Sixty is winking at me from here in my late fifties so I’m not far behind. I love that you started blogging at sixty. Its very cool and inspirational. Onward.
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I am an extremely late bloomer.
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Great post. Like your humor. Oh, and by the way – you’re gorgeous. 🙂
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Thanks! I love to make someone laugh. And of course, I love a compliment (especially at my age).
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You don’t look a day over 40 :). Enjoyed your post.
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