Vanity pt 2

This deserves a post based on sheer ridiculousness.

In exactly a month minus one day, i will be traveling for the first time since i got sick. And i will be doing it alone. i will be away from my partner for 12 days, but i will be with my best friends and my adopted mother and people i dearly, dearly love so i'm hoping that they keep my heart full enough so that i don't mind the separation.

Whyyyyy am i making this trip, you ask? A very dear friend is getting married, and she asked me months ago to be in her wedding (actually, she asked me before i even had a diagnosis, it was that long ago.) Now, i hate weddings, but i love this woman, so naturally i said yes. A week from today marks the start of all the bachelorette festivities.

It's bad enough that i'm traveling with my wheelchair. It's bad enough that i will probably have to use it. It's bad enough that i will have to answer "What happened?!" approximately a bazillion times. (Is there a question i hate more?!) But i refuse to look sick. SO - here is my contingency plan for looking normal:

- chemical peels to hopefully downplay the worry lines (7% instead of the usual 40%, since my skin is crazy sensitive since i've gotten sick)
- two weeks of teeth whitening trays
- gradual, subtle fake tanning lotion (eg: not the oompa loompa stuff)
- fake eyelashes to make up for mine that have fallen out (since they're more noticeable than my hair)
- a hair appointment in two weeks to cover the gray (another weird occurrence since getting sick)
- a small arsenal of makeup to cover up the telltale paleness and dark circles
- spray on pantyhose and stage makeup to cover bruises

i have to be presentable for approximately 9 of the 12 days -- the rest will be spent with my madre, and we'll probably just sit around and read and play with the dog.

i'm worried it's going to wear me out horribly =/ But i know that seeing everyone i miss so much is something i need, too. Hopefully it will downgrade from 100-and-death degrees by the time i get down there, too... cause it's supposed to be 115 tomorrow there. Argh, i hope i'm not crazy for trying to do this!