Russ, life is indeed a blast; the problem is that so many can't make the most of it in a manner that makes the most of them.
Fashion victim wasn't a phrase born of happenstance but observation.
There are many young, attractive (as distinct from photogenic) girls here, too, but they appear to have an innates sense of how to look good; the same, in spades, is true of Italy though I can't say that the younger French ones that I've noted have what some of their older sisters (and probably mothers) do.
I think it stems from a sense of isolation - no, the reality of cultural/sartorial isolation. The seventies were a long time ago, as my poor olde mirror constantly tries to hint. I ignore the mother, and crave a Dorian Gray solution.
But actually, Russ, I am 'lightened up' in the sense that I have realised a helluva lot of things about futility in the last three and-a-half years; a development that cuts right through a helluva lot of crap that once seemed so vital to the living of life.
It's the hand one's dealt; one can lie or one can tell the truth as one sees it or, perhaps better still, do as the old blues lyric recommends: 'if you can't say nuthin' nice, don't say nuthin's my advice'. But that would lead to a dead forum.
;-(
Rob C
