I a am a person who will never wear a T-shirt that says #noregrets. I am a ‘should’ve, would’ve, could’ve’ kind of person. I make no apologies for second guessing myself because I do it so well, but I am bothered when other people do it. So consider this week’s column to be advice so that you can sport the previously mentioned shirt. (Though really? I hate the whole hashtag T-shirt craze. Just say what you want without the extra punctuation!)
I should have worn sunscreen. Take a look at my face. You see how pale and freckly it is? Let’s just say the sun is not my friend, and I really should not have laid out slathered with baby oil on my face while using an album cover wrapped in foil as a reflector to give me a ‘glow.’ Unhappily, I never got the glow I was looking for; instead, I got skin cancer. So now, I have an unattractive scar on my face. Oh, and if one more person says no one will notice, you’re getting punched. I notice, and in this situation, I am the most important person. So wear sunscreen every day so you don’t end up looking like Patty the Pirate.
I would tell all my friends I love them. To say that I am fortunate in the friends department is an understatement. Somehow, this prickly personality manages to hold onto friends for years. I am not a huggy, ‘I love you’ kind of person. I sometimes am able to croak the words out to my girlfriends, but I have never felt comfortable saying it to my male friends. I am afraid they will think I have become a cougar and have designs on them, which, much to their relief, is not the case. I recently had a friend die. He was someone who treated me like his kid sister. I laughed hard when we were together. He made my days at work brighter, and now he is gone, and I never once told him what a great pal he was. I am sure he knew, but right now, I would give anything just to say those three words to him, in no small part just to hear him say it back.
I could run a marathon. I am not a runner, never have been. I hate to exercise, my knees hurt and running makes me sweat. But I am a fan of The Real Housewives of New York City and have become inspired by one of the women who, after 53 years of never exercising, decided to run the New York City marathon. I signed up for a class at Central Studio called Run Reformer with my friend Karen. It is supposed to get me in shape to run a 5k by the end of May. As I write this, I have been to one class and I was able to run half a block. I am not exaggerating. OK, maybe I am. It was a quarter of a block. Anyway, I asked the very patient instructor Kristen, who is a long distance runner, if I was able to run half of a block this week, when would I be able to run a marathon? She said 26 weeks. I know she is lying, but she has provided me with a bit of hope to keep trying!
That’s enough advice for one day. Maybe you will try to do one of your ‘should’ve, would’ve, could’ve’ things. Whatever you do, never wear a T-shirt that says #noregrets.
Contact Patty at phannum@townandstyle.com.
