Stereotypes would have us believe that women raised below the Mason Dixon Line and women raised above it are polar opposites. Perhaps in the days of Scarlet and her beloved Tara – Belles and Yankees didn’t often see life in the same way – but in today’s world (sans plantations and bonnets) when comparing my mother and her southern friends to my mother-in-law Donna and her north of the line friends – the main difference is as small as lipstick. I am not suggesting in any way that Donna or her friends are not big fans of lipstick. It is simply a difference in the number of applications per day. For example – our sweet southern friend Gay Haverstock (who does happen to own a clothing store with a full Estée Lauder counter) is a real stickler. When playing doubles tennis – she will call out the ladies who need to reapply theirs “lips”. In my 100% honest opinion…this is her way of saying, “I care about you, and I want you to be (look) your best.” Now – after playing golf with Donna, as well as several of her close (and wonderful) friends, I can assure you that they are not reminding each other to reapply. Which might lead one to believe that they are a more competitive group – perhaps more focused on the game. Well…I believe that the dance off at the “Circus of Love” proves a very equal amount of competitive nature between the two groups of ladies (who I might add…also became fast friends)!
The pictures set the stage better than my words possibly can. But for a short and sweet clarification – the final round for the southern ladies included a “how low can you go” move all the while perfectly applying their lovely lip-sticked lips! Full disclosure – Donna and her friends took the top award. Coincidently – it involved lips as well…big “carnie” wax lips.
My mother starting to lead the pack of Murray women in the lipstick challenge. Love that this group includes both of my 80-year-old grandmothers!
Going as low as we can go while perfectly applying our ruby reds! The tallest blonde to the right is Gay...the instigator of our lipstick talent show.
Back up and doing a celebration shimmy! I love how Ruth (2nd from left) is raising her tube of lipstick like she is toasting with a glass of champagne!
The Columbus Crew with their answer to the lipstick dance...big wax lips and a lollipop routine!
And then came the wax mustaches...
I absolutely love all these ladies and I sincerely want to thank them for stepping up the game on the dance floor! It was tough for the younger crowd to keep up! Obviously – I give them 5 blondes out of 5.
Teaching the craft to the beautiful Fiona York!
Schafer Welcome Song and Magic Show Up Next….
A Blonde in Beijing 
Morgan,
As I am looking at the pictures of the “lipstick” wars, I wondered why I was not in any of them, and then I remembered why. I don’t carry my lipstick with me because my brand stays on all day and night and I have no need to reapply it on the tennis court, in the grocery store, church, etc. Because I have no need to carry the tube with me, I now have room in my purse for my little flashlight. When I am out and about, I have found the flashlight to be more useful than glosses or lip stains, but when I pulled it out of my purse to pretend it was lipstick, I was “booted” out of the group. That’s fine, but just wait until Mona comes to visit me again and we’re out shopping and wind up in a dark stairwell and the lights go out — do you think I will light her way???? And by the way, I will be e-mailing you a “thank you” note later.
Wow! That’s an interesting slant.