I Never Forget a Face

I Know You!

By: Lilt

Written on February 8th, 2013

I never forget a face. I think there is something beautiful about everyone's face. It shows so much, like a map of your life. I am an avid people watcher.
I especially enjoy watching large family groups. This is often in a restaurant, a park, or an airport. I study their faces, body language, expressions. From there, I try to figure out their place in the family. Mother, son, sister-in-law, siblings, etc. The clues are sometimes obvious, and sometimes very subtle. I could be the shape of a chin, funny earlobes, their posture, or the arch of the eyebrows. Try it sometime!
Some years ago, me and Mr.Lilt were at a club in Chicago ~ nowhere near my hometown. A man walks through the door. I know him. I know him from a long time ago. We were on the same swim team...in 1971. That was over 30 years ago, we were 8 years old. Mr. Lilt laughed and dismissed my claim, saying "you always think you know everybody.". Which is kind of true. While I was in the ladies room, he went and asked the man if he was who I thought he was. True! We talked for a bit and it was fun.

Anyway, what I really want to talk about is all this plastic surgery business. And geez, what a business it is! I am completely baffled, and saddened, by all the procedures people have adopted as "normal." It is nose jobs, boob jobs, hair removal, hair replacement, liposuction, inject a smile, Botox, and on and on. I recently saw a commercial that asked, "Do suffer from inadequate eyelashes?" Huh???

With all these procedures, how will I know if someone "looks just like their Dad." Or has their "Aunt's perfect skin." Or has a "fine *** just like their sister."
How will I know if we were on the same swim team in 1971???

I will never forget a face. I WILL forget your face...
If it is not your face!!!

By: Lilt

Age: 46-50

347 people have read this story

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55 responses

luckylassie

so so true and once its done you cant reverse it or not easily. i think plastic surgery is also a terrible use o f doctors skills when they are need ed for health concerns
.

Mar 25
2 likes
- Lilt
  Lucky, you make a really important point . I really didn't think of the surgeon's skills in that way. There is so much need out there. Yet, here are these vain and simple people puffing up their lips and making big plastic boobs. It is truly a sad commentary on our American priorities. Thank you so much for your insight!
  
  Mar 26
  1 like
angsty

Cool story, Lilt. Last year, I went to two funerals, each from different sides of my family. Seeing the dozens of faces bearing the variety of our gene pool astounded me. Everyone looked like someone else by subtle degrees of separation, yet we are all the same organism. There may have been a boob job or hair replacement among them, but their faces were intact enough for me to recognize who came from whom.

Feb 16
2 likes
- Lilt
  Thank goodness, eh Angsty!!!
  I have a very weird scenario I have been thinking about. I will add it to this story tomorrow...
  
  Feb 18
  1 like
surrealreality

lol. That's cool that you can remember faces. I like people watching too :) Some people just over do it with the plastic surgery.

Feb 15
2 likes
- Lilt
  Way over do it! Think Carrot Top. yikes!
  
  Feb 15
  1 like
- surrealreality
  lol Yeah I'm not all against plastic surgery until people do it so much they look completely different and no longer look natural
  
  Feb 15
  1 like
Orangetas

I agree, I always think of Barbara Striesand who was pressured to have a nose reduction but she refused and allowed herself to remain a beautiful unique lady.

Feb 11
3 likes
Scarcollection

Don't change cosmetic surgery, change the discrimination against "less pretty" people. Beauty-privilege is the worst kind of privilege after white, male privilege, in my opinion.
I wish I could stay 'natural' too, but I can't, the suffering is too intense, the hate, the abuse for being an ugly girl, cosmetic surgery can be for the good, but only because we live in a cruel world.
Don't worry, it's super expensive, we're paying the price for it, a really big price for something plenty of people get simply born with.

Feb 10
3 likes
- Lilt
  Scar, I would never imply that all plastic surgery is bad. There are physical features that cause a lot of pain and isolation for some. I have seen a gastric bypass surgery literally transform a friend's life. It seems to me that a long time ago, there was a lot of psychological counseling involved before any procedure. Now we just have a few drinks before the Botox party.
  
  Feb 10
  1 like
- Scarcollection
  A few drinks before a Botox party? That's... unbelievable! I'd almost say that cosmetic surgery is a powerful tool in saving people's lives (from suicide mostly), but botox parties and stuff really sound like "cosmetic surgery abuse" or something. :-o
  
  Feb 10
  1 like
- Lilt
  Exactly.
  
  Feb 10
  1 like
wonderMe07

Good, fun story. I enjoyed very much. Its true it is becoming a plastic world.

Feb 10
3 likes
womaninbliss

Ooh what a fun story Mrs Lilt. Yes, I love looking at families and recognising their common features. It's quite a game to play, many hours of harmless fun! I love it when a little kid really looks like an older person in the family, some particular feature that's common to them both.
And friends don't age do they? Even though my friends are aging at an equally rapid rate as myself ... I just don't see it ... and hopefully they don't see it in me either! But it doesn't matter it's the inside stuff that matters, I figured that one out ages ago!
I'm with you on the plastic surgery too ... but I've wondered now and again how I'd look with a facelift ... just a little tuck here and there! lol ... but I can't see me ever having the guts to do it though ... or the money for that matter!

Feb 9
3 likes
- Lilt
  Woman, I am sure everyone has a little something they would like to change. That's natural. But going ahead and making all those changes is NOT natural. Me...I would get these boobs lifted back up where they belong.
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
- womaninbliss
  My boobs are OK at the moment ... everything else is heading south though! The joys of aging!! :)
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
- Corylus
  It would probably have the same effect as decorating the scruffier room in the house. Yes it looks great, but now there is a new scruffy area that needs attention.
  
  Feb 11
  1 like
destry

I think plastic surgery can make people look so creepy! Google Kate Jackson, for instance! *shudder*

Feb 9
3 likes
- Lilt
  *heading to Google*
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
- Lilt
  Good grief! It looks like her eyes are going to fly off her face. They are almost turned sideways!
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
- destry
  Right?! She just shouldn't have messed with her face.
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
- bijouxbroussard
  Oh, no...she was so pretty. She did not have to do all that.
  
  Feb 10
  1 like
- ARestlessSoul
  It looks like she got lop-sided cheek implants or something...
  
  Feb 10
  1 like
- Lilt
  She would make a good model for Picasso.
  
  Feb 10
  1 like
- destry
  Yes! She definitely would! :-/
  
  Feb 11
  1 like
- ronanp
  Holy **** .... she looks freakish
  
  Feb 11
  1 like
5 More Replies
MaryP5

My friends and I have had conversations about plastic surgery and we are all adamantly opposed, of course. Well. Mostly adamantly opposed. Usually, if the conversation lasts any length of time it comes out that each of us has one thing we would get done. One procedure that we have considered at length.
I think my girlfriends are the most beautiful women in the world. But honestly, I don't see them anymore. Not the outside. I feel their compassion, their joys, their pain, their strength. And when I look at them that is what I see.
I'm glad you talked to your swim buddy. That was my favorite part of the story.

Feb 9
2 likes
- Mary1283
  Mary, I have to agree with you. I noticed that people I like, I don't pay any attention to their physical features, and people I don't like grow ugly, even if they're not.
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
LilAnnie

Best story ever! I agree. People watching is so much fun. I'd rate up your story a couple of rates up but everytime I want to rate up anything here lately, my computer asks me if I'd like to save the file. Huh? Why? Would my computer plant some sort of marker on your story for the Feds to follow? Would they suspect you of nefarious motives because you innocently observe people? Lilt! I don't want to be responsible for starting your FBI profile. But consider yourself highly rated. : )

Feb 9
4 likes
- Lilt
  Who says I don't already have a file ?
  :-)
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
Cashiiib

LOL

Feb 9
2 likes
Corylus

Hair removal, yes. Maybe. Possibly mole removal, if its obvious, say on the face. Otherwise there really is no need for it. We are all individuals and need to accept ourselves. Not to attempt to become clones. The culture of perfection is damaging our daughters psyches and to a lesser extent, our sons too.

Feb 9
2 likes
- Lilt
  I couldn't agree more, Corylus. I have three sons, and I surely hope I have taught them to appreciate the beauty in everyone.
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
ARestlessSoul

The "inadequate eyelashes" thing really annoys me. Especially since they're trying to sell it as a legitimate "medical condition." Pffffft!!!
But I have had my own adventure with eyelashes recently. I keep noticing how beautiful my niece and nephew's lashes are. My eldest nephew has super dark, long lashes that thousands of women would kill for (or spend thousands of dollars for, anyway.)
And I got to thinking, "If they can have that naturally, what's wrong with mine?" Then I found a home-made recipe for a lash conditioner, and I tried it. It's just aloe, castor oil, and vitamin E oil, and it works wonders.
Too bad mine are still blonde and invisible, haha.

Feb 8
4 likes
- Lilt
  You and I both know the implications of all this "inadequacy." It makes me damned mad.
  But I am too sleepy tonight to get into all that. I think you have a perfect face, Restless. But I wish you good luck with the salad dressing lash treatment. xxxooo
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
- affinityterra
  Makes me mad to lilt, because my daughters are being taught this inadequacy; that you're not beautiful unless you are an air brushed swimsuit model.
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
- ARestlessSoul
  Aww, thanks Lilt! And I love your friendly sock face. Did you get it from your Aunt? And yes, tapping into insecurities really pays mega bucks, and the beauty industry is the biggest bullshit shoveler out there. All the models in the mascara commercials are wearing false eyelashes. Every single one of them. In fact, the more I know about all the "smoke and mirrors" out there, the more confident I am in how I look, because I' know what's real and what's illusion. I'm a natural woman (and I proudly sing that fact in the shower, haha). And I'm going to make damn sure to pass that knowledge on to my beautiful niece before those fockers get into her head.
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
- Lilt
  All fake, fake, fake!!!
  Actually, I look just like my Grandma. I was sent a picture of her from 50 years ago. The resemblance was almost creepy. My youngest son thought it was me. " Mom, how did you get in the old-timey picture?"
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
- ARestlessSoul
  Haha. Tell him you're a time traveler. I look like my Grandma, too. We didn't know it until we discovered pictures of her in her 20's. It's crazy how some things skip a generation.
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
- destry
  That is cool. I am adopted and don't look like anyone in my family. TaterTot, however looks a lot like me, when I was his age.
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
- ARestlessSoul
  Awww, that's sweet. :-) It's amazing how kids will look like one parent from one angle, and the other parent from the other angle.
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
4 More Replies
affinityterra

I admit, I'd wanna do the hair removal thing. To never have to shave would be awesome. As far as the other stuff, I'm so with you. I'll never understand why people will take such risks by going under the knife.

Feb 8
3 likes
- Lilt
  Somehow, Affinity, I cannot imagine you being all that hairy. :-)
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
- awhitedot
  I'm with you on the hair......
  .....a little less for me please!
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
- affinityterra
  I'm not all that hairy. I shave :-)
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
- Lilt
  I pluck those chin hairs. Haven't started shaving them yet. ;-)
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
- affinityterra
  Hahaha cute Lilt. When I was pregnant with my first I had a few show up, but nothing major. They went away though.
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
2 More Replies
awhitedot

Inject a smile.....LMAO!

Feb 8
3 likes
- Lilt
  They are some pretty funky smiles, don't you think, Dottie?
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
- awhitedot
  A friend of ours works for a plastic surgeon. Some of the work that walks out the door is unreal....in a bad way.....and they are HAPPY with it!
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
- Lilt
  Unreal..you said it. Just a hot mess. And I don't even think these people wonder how it will look a few years ahead. Or the medical issues that could be their future.
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
- ARestlessSoul
  I remember watching a British documentary called "Super Botox Me." One of the doctors looked like he'd been injecting all of his surplus stock. Yikes.
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
- Lilt
  Even scarier...I saw a story about a woman who wanted a big bootie. She went to some fake doctor and he injected her with tire sealant!!!
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
- ARestlessSoul
  Awwww! I've seen worse. This one woman lost both of her arms and legs from a botched butt implant surgery. It might be the same woman, come to think of it...
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
- Lilt
  That's the one!
  
  Feb 9
  1 like
4 More Replies

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