If you’re like me, you automatically reach into your purse for your lipstick at the end of the meal. Applying lipstick in a restaurant is commonplace enough that it often goes unnoticed. Besides, it doesn’t take any special skill to swipe some color over your lips, even if you don’t have a mirror.
A friend of mine applies her full make-up regalia during her morning commute. Using her rearview mirror, she performs this act in perfect synchronization with the stop lights along the way. She can dab on concealer, bronzer, and lip gloss, not to mention perk up her eyes with mascara and eyeliner, all with a steady hand. By the time she’s reached her office, her face is painted to flawless perfection. It’s a talent for sure, and one that I couldn’t hope to imitate. Besides, I don’t drive to work.
I commute using public transportation and the jostling that takes place on the subway or bus, not to mention the other passengers pressed up against you like sardines, and the students who whip around and whack you with their backpacks, all render the application of make-up impossible – or so I thought until the other day.
A woman sitting across from me reached into her tote bag and took out a false eyelash. It looked like a big bushy caterpillar. Using the tips of her fingernails as a substitute tweezer, she methodically picked off every bit of caked-on glue from the base of the eyelash. Next, she took out a tiny tube of glue and strategically applied three dots. When the glue was dry – remember, this was a moving train – she pressed the eyelash onto her lid. She then repeated the process for the other eye. I could not believe MY EYES! Wish I could’ve stuck around to see what she’d do next, but we had reached my stop.
Dolce Zitella 
Chris, I loved this. Reminded me of the days when I took a half hour to apply the warpaint. Now with all the hills and valleys on the old face, I just don’t bother. Lipstick is my only cosmetic and even that is starting to race down the lines under and over the lips. Hope to see you soon. Just don’t look too closely.
Love ya,
Sheila
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Sheila, thanks for your humorous comment. While I like applying the war paint as much as the next gal, I am liking this new trend of “less is more” and some days skip the eye make up and just do light coverage on my face and a nude shade of lipstick. CC
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It is better than what I saw at T last year; well dressed men clipping his nails on his commute to work! Gross…
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OMG Pinar! This is so funny! Your comment made me remember that I once saw a man clipping his toe nails in public too! My brother and I were kids and my family was at JFK airport seeing my grandparents off as they went on a vacation. A man in a suit opened his briefcase and took out a nail clipper. My brother and I couldn’t believe it when he took off his shoes and socks and started clipping away. In fact we both got a case of the giggles! But you’re right…it’s gross!
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It’s gotten so bad on public transportation that I’ve seen signs on the train in DC reminding passengers that the the trains are not to be used for personal grooming.
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Thanks for your comment Teresa – so this problem is not just in Boston…crazy, isn’t it…
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Transportation and entertainment all rolled into one! Do not miss commuting by MBTA at all! 😉
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You are lucky that you don’t need the MBTA to get around. It’s not what it used to be, and let’s face it, even at its best – it was no great shakes.
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