I had never tackled this particular challenge before. Mostly I change hems, and shorten curtains, or take shirts in on the sides. But a woman I had never met asked me to add a panel to the back of her prom dress. A bunch of her friends were headed to the shore for the weekend and the dress code was 80's prom. Amazingly she still had one of her favorites, but alas it was from a slimmer time of life. What I welcomed about the task was that her priority was having fun. There was no need to try to match the fabric, or hide the addition with clever adornments. I found a white piece of satin that would make a nice contrast with the stripes. After ripping out the zipper I pieced two triangles, and reinstalled the zipper.  

 

When I modify clothes for teenagers they are more fastidious about a snug fit. One girl had me take it in three times before she was satisfied. The irony is that this young woman would have looked terrific in a plastic bag, which come to think of it my daughter did once. Not having misplaced their physical beauty, they still believe that it matters. A lot. 

 

A woman sent me a link to a photo shoot of couples who have been married fifty years. The photographer posed them to look like engaged couples, albeit with a bit more gray. Some are walking on the beach, others kneeling in a meadow. A few have their dog nearby, ready for action. Or a rescue. 

 

Their faces bespeak the laughter earned through decades of shared living. There is no energy left for chasing children, or wallpapering the kitchen. But those occasions helped pave the way to a ripe marriage, and complete trust. Let the children chase them. May the walls fade in peace. 

 

Their eyes look into each other's faces seeing a gorgeousness that no lens can capture.