Do you think you're still 'attractive'?

mrsmopp - I had long hair that used to fall in ringlets (not cool in the 60s)

How great it would have been if hair straighteners had been invented then.

I guess it depends what you mean by attractive. Attractiveness is complex; it isn't all about superficial prettiness*. I've always found what I shall call the look of intelligence/personality in a face more attractive than what we are pleased to call beauty. There is a tendency in some fashion publications for the models to look rather vacant. I find that offputting.

*physical beauty... whatever you want to call it.

We've just made a start on sorting through and cutting down our large accumulation of photographs and I was amazed that I was much better looking than I ever thought I was at the time. (I too had a disparaging mother.) Not fantastic, but certainly not ugly, I thought then that DH married me for my car maintenance abilities. Now, having gained a bit of weight and surplus flesh plus a slouching arthritic limp I'm definitely nothing to write home about!

But, on thinking about it, I'm really not too bothered. I continue to try to make the best of a bad job, but as long as I don't look in passing mirrors I can't see myself, so I can just be me. And most people seem to be happy to know me so I'm happy too.