How Do I Look?

I was spending the weekend with my friend G.  We were getting ready to go to the Farmer's Market that morning and I was in the bathroom, putting on my make-up, when her 4 year old son came in.
(Maybe he was 5; I can't remember.  It's been a while.)

"What are you doing?"
"I'm putting on my make-up."
"Why?"
"Because it makes me look better."

He climbed up onto the edge of the sink and watched, enthralled, as I sponged, dotted and powdered; brushed, swiped and blended.  It's important to note that my friend G is a bit of a hippie--she is younger than I am and has better skin too--so she's not as concerned with putting on a daily mask.  This was a new thing for him.  He was completely invested in watching my transformation, like I was performing some sort of magical feat.

When I was finished, I turned to him and said "TA-DA!  What do you think?  How do I look?"

After a thoughtful moment, he said……………………………..

"You really don't look any better."

I thought of that this morning as I prepared to go out.  I washed my face and opened my cosmetic bag.  Looking into the mirror, those words--the truth--all that time invested just to hide the reality of my face--I zipped the bag back up and grabbed my coat.