A Matter Of Pride.(mascara)(Editorial)

Byline: Linda Wells, Editor in Chief

Before I go to the gym in the morning, I brush my hair, moisturize my face, and apply mascara. I realize this makes no senseor that the mascara part certainly doesn't. Even if anyone in my Spinning class were looking at meand, really, aren't we all just checking out ourselves?it wouldn't matter. The class is conducted in a dark room; the mirror fogs over after about ten minutes. When the session ends, I'm so pink-faced and sweat-sodden that my mascarawaterproof in name if not in factis raccooned around my eyes. Still, I wouldn't think of leaving the house without it.

I fix myself up for the doormen in my building, the people in the elevator, the cabdriver, the dog walkers, the Spinning instructoranyone, really, who sees me at that unkind hour of the morning. I used to think that women who wouldn't run out of the house for a gallon of milk without carefully applying makeup were ridiculous. Now, I'm one of them.

The brushed hair, the moisturizer, the mascara: These are the minimum requirements of my pride. Less than that, and I might as well ...