When I began the 70-something blog about 400 posts ago, I told you that I would write about parents and children, about exercise and work and about my views on just about anything during my journey through the 70's.  I have done that and more.

But I also promised that I would write about the inevitable physical changes that accompany aging, and I have failed to do that.  I am about to make up for that omission, and this won't be pretty.

Younger readers (and I love that you read my blog) might want to skip this part so they can deny the inevitable a little longer.

I guess what prompted me to face this is my face.  Until recently, people I met took me for five to ten years younger than I am.  But just last week, I noticed that the "bags" under my eyes that I thought were due to a night of insomnia hadn't gone away after a good night's sleep. 

My four-and-a- half year old grandson informed me on a recent visit that my neck "looked wrinkled like a skeleton," whatever that means, but it doesn't mean good.  On an earlier trip, his older brother had told me that a new face cream made my face look "less wrinkly." 

I'm fortunate that my genes (thanks Mom) keep me thin, but lately I noticed that the skin around my waist is a little, shall we say, "loose"?

Someone recently wrote about tucking her breasts into her waistband.  I'm doing a little better in that department, but the trend is downward.

On the bright side, my smile is still genuine, my energy level is still high, and things are better than they will be later.

OK, I did it.