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March 23, 2011

i was topless on a beach once....

two little words
that can mean everything
~
i've noticed that on photo shoots with girls entering their senior year of high school
when they ask me what to do with their hands or their legs
i always say
"what feels comfortable?"
"just be yourself"
~
"be yourself"
reminds all of us
that we are who we are
and
that it's a waste of time trying to be anything other than that
~
being yourself
is something
nobody can take away
i've never had long hair
but
in the past few weeks
my hair has actually been long enough to pull back into a ponytail
~
now granted it's a ponytail that a real pony would be embarrassed to have
~a mutant ponytail of sorts~
but
a ponytail none the less

i have a dear sweet friend who is a spiritual counselor.
the very first day we met, she told me i had fairy wings. now granted, some people might have run away from a woman like that and never looked back, but i took that as a huge compliment. i've never asked her what having fairy wings actually means, but i believe it's something good. the other day i had my hair in a ponytail when i went to pick her up for lunch and she said with my hair like that, my fairy wings were even brighter than usual. when we sat down to eat, at a round table surrounded by windows, she said "i swear your fairy wings are just larger than life today and if i opened up this window next to me you'd fly away."
i also took that as a compliment
and
smiled

i was topless once
on a topless beach in aruba
~
now granted
i took my top off in an area where nobody else could see me
and
had my hubby take a few photos in case i ever had to prove what i had done
but
i was topless
~
i found this photo today
and
kind of guiltily fell in love with it
~
and
now i have to confess something
~
i want a photo of me
just like this one
~
i don't care what pier or dock i'm on
or
what state or country i'm in
~
all i know
is that i want a photo of me
just like this one
and
to be honest
it wouldn't get tucked away with the aruba photos
nope
a photo like this
i'd be really proud of
and
it would be framed with love
{if i could rip it out of my hubby's hands}
~
now
how about a confession
~
would you have your photo taken like this
or
am i the kind of woman you want to run away from now
thinking "sheesh, she's a crazy one for even asking me that question"

46 comments:

  1. yes, be yourself are two of the greatest words to live by ...

    yes, i do believe you have fairy wings and that your friend is just the loveliest to notice and give you that uplifting gift ... : )

    yes, i love your cutie patuutie pony!

    yes, i have felt the glorious sun on my bare buff and there is no feeling like it ...

    and yes, it would be kinda cool to have an image taken like that ~ a beautiful way to celebrate one's body ~ no matter the age or sag!

    good for you for asking ~
    xo
    prairiegirl

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  2. I have several photos of me of this sort... through many years...and you know what, nothing is where it once was; time, nursing babies, and just the business of every day life has changed every part of me, and I am happier with the photos of me now than I ever was when I was young. I say go for it... celebrate your fairy wings, your pony tail and your beauty!

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  3. I can happily sneak outside and sit on my deck nekkid if I choose with a very rare chance of being spied. In order to do a photo like the one you showed, I think I'd need to use my hands to push "the girls" into place so they'd be happy and perky instead of oozing out from the sides... :)

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  4. I'd love one like this, however, I don't think my boobs would be in the same place, LOL

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  5. Oh absolutely! That's a wonderful photo! My nipples might point slightly further outwards....but hey...who cares right?! :) Love it!

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  6. lol mine would fall behind my back and I might tie them in a bow but I don't care, or at least not often...

    would i run? nope i would pour wine : D

    xx
    z

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  7. No, I wouldn't run away from you because of the question. But, no, I wouldn't want a photo taken of me with it all hangin' out; gravity has taken too much of a toll on me.
    How wonderful to have a friend who sees fairy wings when she looks at you. She's definitely a keeper!

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  8. You guys are cracking me up!

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  9. FAIRY WINGS: Yes on the wings! You have such a sweet little face and form, that about you screams "Pixie!" I say Pixie instead of Fairy because you strike me as more the "TinkerBell" type! You have a pixies playful twinkle in your eyes.
    ON BEING YOURSELF: Ditto! On the "Being Yourself" thing. In fact, I must confess that I've gone back to this section and re-read it twice now because I find it to be sound reasoning and just plain good advice. I needed this pep-talk and didn't reolize it until I'd finished reading it the second time, and found myself all teary-eyed. (tell you why some other time--K?)
    TOPLESS: Hell yes! And a BIG thumbs-up! You-GO-girl! And If I would look like you do in this pic. you posted I'd do it to! But alas, tis not 2-B. Laying on my back as in your Pic. I'd have to constantily be adjusting my boobs away from my arm pits. An I'm so Red-Headed-Freckle-Faced-Glow in the dark fair skined, I'd be broaled neon red inside of 10 min.! So I'll just sit back and live the dream through you...If that's okay with you I mean.___=^..^=___Kittie

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  10. I totally have Double BB take hot photos of me whenever we do day trips to locations involving water ... there is ALWAYS a secluded little nook or bend ... I never look like I FEEL, or like I WISH I looked, but boy oh boy does it ever serve up the erotic static charge between BB and me! well worth it!! The photos go in my journal (behind tucks and folds, or in marked-PRIVATE envelopes), and BB has his stash.

    of course you have fairy wings ... and the eyes of a poet!!

    Toni

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  11. I have a friend who sees auras - when I'm with her, and we take photos, sometimes I see them, too. The nude form is beautiful but my own ancient form looks much better clothed!

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  12. I was topless once on a flat rock in a river bed...and maybe there was a photo. There is no greater feeling than the sun on bare skin. Or the water on bare skin, for that matter. The photo above is beautiful! And yes, I'd have my photo taken like this and I think you're pretty cool for putting this confession out there. :)

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  13. I'd love a photo like this if I could only LOOK LIKE THAT. In my younger years, I think I could. Right now? Well.. those aren't 46 year old boobs, I'm pretty sure.

    As for the lady who sees fairy wings... I'm sure she's a beautiful person, but if I were sitting with someone who came out and said that very thing.. in all seriousness... I'd tread lightly, or maybe backpedal. :-)

    Although you certainly are an adorable pixie! Especially with that ponytail.

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  14. I would love to have a photo like that but when it came down to it I'm not sure I'd have the confidence. These days my boobs are making a beeline for my armpits so lord only knows what a photo of me in that position would look like.

    I seriously contemplated going topless once, while I was on holiday in Cypress. I'm glad I didn't in the end because we ended up running into our neighbors (how random is that). I used to babysit for their kids and would have been mortified for them to see me baring all.

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  15. No, you're not crazy. If I had a decent sized rack, I'd go for it. You're right, it's an amazing picture. Frankly, I have to admit, I'm kind of envious. Nice post, it's different. Not the usual, I like it!

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  16. I just love you all the more, and definately my boobs would not be in the same position, can I use duct tape. lol. hugs.

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  17. i dont know about the
    wings but the ponytail is adorable.
    i had really short hair all my life
    and grew it out seven years ago
    just because i wanted, once,
    to have a ponytail to put through the
    back of a baseball cap.
    that always looked so cool to me.

    now my hair is back to
    pixie length where it belongs.

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  18. Awesome topless photo... wish I was still that 'perky'! ^^

    Di

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  19. It is a gorgeous photo. Would you share here if you had it taken? Now fairy wings, yes I can see those full blown and shining in the sun, just ready to fly. Not crazy, girl, just you and delightful!

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  20. It is a beautiful photograph of a woman with beautiful breasts. Mine kind of go under the armpits when I lie that way so not sure if I want a picture of that...but one that would show my fairy wings, now that I could get my camera mind around.

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  21. Love that you have fairy wings..and that you believe and love yourself enough to have a photograph taken like that. Be Yourself - words I should engrave it in my heart!

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  22. Love your hair !!!
    Thanks for the link... incredible site.
    I don't have a photo like that , nor can I see one in my future. Most of the women above have addressed the issue.
    she is gorgeous and if you want to and feel good about it... go for it.

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  23. I think up until a few years ago, I would have said 'no way would I have a photo of myself taken that way' but something changed in me when I turned 50 and I say 'heck yeah'! Thanks for the idea. I'll dream for awhile that mine would be that beautiful, but I know better. I'd still like to do it though. And how cool that you have fairy wings! Be Yourself - exactly!

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  24. I'm visiting you for the first time, I found you via Texwisgirl.
    What a wonderful blog you have, and you sound like a very interesting woman!

    I sunbathed topless on a public beach in the late 70's, but not sure if I would do it today. Our deck is totally secluded though, so no problem there LOL! And I do let my husband take photos like that of me :-))

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  25. What a fun ‘discussion’ I love how warm and nonjudgmental if feels here. How absolutely wonderful to have fairy wings, and how lucky to have a friend who sees them and points them out.
    As for the photo. Yes. I would. And I agree, I think it is terribly brave for you to put that thought out there. Thank you for being brave, and giving us the opportunity to have this discussion.
    xo

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  26. I might if I were much younger. But I think now I'd prefer one of my bare back.

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  27. I think it's lovely that you have fairy wings.
    I would not want a photo of me topless on a beach like this. I'm just being myself.

    * ha *

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  28. I thought that photo was you!!! I have done some topless photos...but I would not dare ever post them in this crazy internet world. But I am proud of them. And some day when I am 80 and my boobs are at my belly button, I can look at that photo as tell my grandkids, Granny was hot a long long time ago...lol

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  29. First of all, I am at exactly the same ponytail stage. I call mine a nub. The photo is lovely, I wouldn't do it myself, mainly because instead of mountains, I have molehills. :)
    And you most definitely have fairy wings.

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  30. Oh Beth what a lovely post. And yea I can see your fairy wings too my friend. Do wear them with proud.
    LOVE your ponytail looks awsome on you. Do keep your hear long like this.

    And about a picture like this Love to have one too if I was bronzed like that.Since I'm a redheaded person my skin is milky white with lots and lots of freckles. But here in Europe it's so normal to be on a beach topless so I did lots of that years ago. Now it seems to be more fancy to wear a top.
    Do go for it girl. You rock. And you sure got some thing to be proud of and we all do, it is our body we need to honour because it takes us on so many adventures in life.
    Hugs Dagmar

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  31. I love the idea of fairy wings although i would have to ask her what she meant. As for sunbathing topless-its pretty de rigeur in Europe so i've always had tanned boobs! Now i'm older though i think i'd keep them safely contained so as not to scare folk!

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  32. LOVED that photo...it spoke to me, too. it's not about boobies or topless or anything seedy. it's about freedom and living, i think.

    at least, that's how i saw it.

    plus? i always love looking at women's bodies vs. men's. our parts are way prettier! xoxox

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  33. I would do it on a private beach.. for a private photo collection. The one good thing about being small-chested all my life is that at 55, they still look pretty good. ;)

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  34. a long time ago, yes - the husband used polaroids. and once he did a charcoal sketch..

    here's my favorite nude by my instructor. i thinhkh it's amazing. http://jpgmag.com/photos/366570

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  35. If they looked like that, yes. Would I put it on the internet, no. (Even if my face wasn't showing ~ for hubby's delight and no one elses!)

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  36. I really thought that was you and I thought what a difference.!!! I would have never guessed. Nice photo and to be that perfect. Your right about some girls and some it is natural to just be .
    I wouldnt dream of being anyone else .. expect to have the eyes of the late Liz Taylor . Now she was beautiful.

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  37. Having been an RN for 45 years now, I must confess, I possess no modesty anymore. While I haven't been topless on a beach, I have certainly been to topless ( and bottemless )
    destinations worldwide. At this point in my life ( 66 ), I'd disrobe ( though I always hate seeing those folks so sunburned on cruises, they
    can't even sit on their tushes in the dining room ), without a qualm - though I'd prefer to do so with at least fifty fewer pounds!

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  38. that is a gorgeous shot. i can see why you wish for one like it. i did have my hubby take shots of me semi naked in the woods a very loooooong time ago. and FILM no less! so we just stumbled upon them in a box a few weeks ago and i felt al the blood rush to my face, though in the same breath i was also proud that i did that, that we did that together. and i tucked them away in my drawer for safekeeping.

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  39. OK. Now I have to go and watch Calendar Girls again. Have you seen it? It's about the same kind of freedom. You know?

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  40. Oh, I sure do NOT want to run away from you my friend, with your fairy wings sprouting full force and a pony tail like mine -- hardly enough to call one, and boy -- isn't a proud moment to have one? I don't want to run away from someone who has that special photo in Aruba or who can celebrate herself and her fairy wings. Instead, a toast!To you, to fairy wings, to joy!

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  41. I hear you! Perfectly spoken.

    I some times find myself shocking! Yes I would love to have taken photos of myself "back then." but like so many others I have always been so critical. I was NOT fat or ugly back then! I wish i had been bold.

    I remember once I shocked my husband when I saw Madonna with her Metal boob bra and said, " if I had her body i would love to walk out on a stage like her." I think he went into a mild coma for a bit. Talk about shocking him :)

    Great topic and comments! Loved them all.

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  42. Good for you!
    I recently did boudoir photos (and was mostly covered) but talk about a freeing experience!
    At this point, with snow out my window, I'd do just about anything to be on a beach. Just. About. Anything!!!

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  43. hmm... why not! i think the photo is sexy as hell. i say go for it! lol

    ps: i love your pony tail. i have one too. ; )
    xo

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  44. I do have photos like this of me.
    A trusted photographer friend took me to a secluded outdoor area and took some pictures, just for me. For me to have and appreciate the body I have. To see my body as art rather than the thing I use to get around in this world.
    It was very healing for me. And I will treasure them, way into my old lady years.
    I wish every woman would do this.

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**I love reading the comments you leave, as they make me feel like we're sitting in my kitchen, having a cup of tea, discussing life and wondering where all the time has gone ...beth