There is such a thing as too much time on your hands. There is also such a thing as too much expendable income. Those things come together in the form of a new cellulite treatment called Cellulaze, a laser machine that "burrows under the skin" and promises to eradicate the dimpled fat that 85% of all women and 5% of all men develop as they age. It is done by a plastic surgeon under anesthetic and costs about $7,000 for two thighs and $2,500 for each extra area. Of course, the procedure has not yet been perfected and some patients may develop nasty infections called seromas, characterized by a buildup of fluids that need to be drained. (Are you feeling nauseous yet?) There may also be temporary bruises and scars, and patients may not want to appear in public wearing shorts or a bathing suit for a long, long time--if ever.
I learned about all this in today's
Wall Street Journal, in a section they call Health & Wellness but perhaps more aptly should be titled Modern Insanity. Our superficial society has certainly lost its way since caveman days; fretting over cellulite seems nutty in light of our global problems, not the least of which is the very air we breathe. Yesterday, on a lovely summer day here in Maine, with bright sunshine and blue skies punctuated by sporadic periods of intense rain, a beautiful woman I know opted to end her life. It was not because of cellulite on her thighs, rest assured, but it may have been because of the very fact that such worries exist and such solutions are offered. Today a new day begins without her, and I am determined to honor her memory by appreciating what's good in life, fat cells be damned.
the only good in loved ones dying is the inspiration they sometimes leave behind.....It is nice that you can be determined to honor her memory. I am sure many will be angry and hurt instead.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your friend. The strangeness of everyday life in our superficial society is tough to bear, but even more difficult is the realization that there may have been no real reason whatsoever.
ReplyDeleteWas there disease? Pain? Some other "knowable" condition? Oft times, no.
We often look for answers when something like this occurs, when the answer is truly un-knowable.
Tedinski
I think one person's willful and blatant rejection of all of "us" is hurtful and sort of insulting too. It's like when you're at a party and you're thinking maybe it sucks but maybe it doesn't, and then one of your good friends gets up and leaves. Anyway, like any death it is mostly just sad.
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