Ha, Indy, "coloring of a corpse" describes me, too. With freckles, none the less.
Irulan, wow, I'm glad you realized you didn't have to do things exactly as your mom said. Funny, how parents do that to us...
Badger, I kind of think the same as you do.
My mom wore make up, had her hair done (twice a week in the early sixties), and flew to NYC to buy her clothes. She also let me know I could do whatever I wanted to, told me never to depend on a man, and was into exercise before anyone else of her generation, at least where I grew up. We rode our Raleighs together. She wore bell bottom jeans when other women were wearing white gloves. I am pretty much just like her!
I was thinking about how this applies to the younger generation of women. I don't have daughters, so it's interesting to me. Both of my DILs wear make up and they are very different people. One is 25, athletic, gorgeous, and in college. She was in the Marines when she met my son. The other one is 32, a professional, who grew up in a "hippie" family, and actually lived in a commune for about 3 years when she was a little girl. Her mom is about as opposite of me as humanly possible, in every way. She's very pretty, but overweight. Yet, both of them know when to dress up and wear make up, in their own unique style. They both get manicures and wear lipstick.
Just interesting to see how this plays out over generations.