Eileen Goudge

Botox But Not For My Wrinkles

I feel like the guy who says he subscribes Playboy just for the articles when I tell people I get Botox but not for my wrinkles. The truth is, I do like the cosmetic benefits…hey, I’m as vain as the next person…but the reason I do it is because I suffer from migraines. Botox is the only thing that helps besides diet and exercise. There is a downside to my bi-annual visits to the plastic surgeon, however. Think about when you take your car in for a tune-up. When was the last time your mechanic said, in response to being asked if the car needs any work, “Nope, everything looks just fine.” My doctor is a good guy, and I know he means well, but the last thing as woman pushing sixty wants to hear is, “Your neck and face are two different ages.” Short for “Your face looks fine (maybe it’s the Botox) but your neck looks like a wrinkled sock.” Trouble is, socks can be pulled up…a wrinkled neck cannot. Unless you’re talking plastic surgery and I draw the line there. Not that I’m against it, but life is too short to inflict unnecessary pain on oneself.

Ah, well…I live through my characters vicariously, and they never age. Good thing I can tap into all those memories. They serve me well. Speaking of pain, we tend to remember peaks and lows more than the everyday stuff, so the painful episodes of my past are the most valuable to me as a writer. (I can’t say I always knew those divorces would be considered a good thing someday, but it’s nice to know it wasn’t all a wash). When I write about suffering, I write from experience, though a character’s particular brand of suffering may not be one I’ve experienced. In THE REPLACEMENT WIFE my character, Camille, learns she has terminal cancer. Thankfully I’ve never had to face that, but I was once hospitalized for a matter of weeks, for a serious health problem, so I know that kind of pain and also what it’s like to feel helpless, at the mercy of doctors and nurses. In WOMAN IN RED, my character, Alice, has to start over after getting out of prison. I thank all you readers who wrote to me asking if I had ever been to prison – I take it as a compliment – but, no, I’ve never been behind bars. I do know what it’s like to have to start over, though. I know how tough it is and how a dollar, when you’re poor, can only stretch so far.

Those experiences have not only made me a better writer, I think I’m also a better person for them. So next time you want to tell someone to stuff it when they say to look for the silver lining, just remember: There can be gold in that silver lining.

One last note: If you haven’t signed up for my newsletter yet, I’d love to welcome you into my extended e-family. Also, you don’t want to miss hearing about all the cool stuff that will soon be on offer, including downloadable e-books and the chance to win a free Sony reader.

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I am mad at your pla...

Comment from: Amanda (Guest)

I am mad at your plastic surgeon! Do not listen! You are so beautiful!

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