This is the week! After a whole 14-months my teenage daughter can finally get her braces off. In a mere 3-days her braces will be part of her history. And, I am left trying to remember what it felt like when I was a teenage girl about to get my braces off. I had braces twice. My teeth weren’t the only thing that was crooked; my jaw was long on one side too. I saw an orthodontist every month for over four years. I don’t remember being quite as excited as Marissa is. Maybe, just maybe I was afraid they would be put on again.
Marissa has decided that she needs a whole new look to go with her new braces-less teeth. Over two years ago, Marissa successfully exited the phase of having to straighten her hair so she could look like everyone else. She usually wears her hair in a puff on top of her head, but Marissa has been wearing her hair down for several weeks already. Finally, last week, Marissa got highlights in her hair. Isn’t she beautiful? Oh, I wish I could hold back time. She looks like a young lady.
So, now we have a dilemma. We usually send Marissa’s mom and grandma photos of her for Christmas. We don’t have any. Marissa didn’t want to take them until after she was no longer in braces. We had a plan. It was a good plan too. Unfortunately, even good plans don’t always work. Marissa spent an extra hour with her voice teacher last week. While an electronic mic captured her every word, Marissa sang several Christmas songs. Everyone is just going to have to trust me; she sang like an angel! When we tried to play the CD we had burned, we couldn’t hear the accompanist at all. Worse, even with the volume on max, we could barely hear Marissa. Why doesn’t anyone still use tape players? They were so much easier. The equipment was reasonably priced. Why I could sit in the very back of my physiology class, push play and the built in mic picked up every word the instructor said.
So, now we have to get something in the mail by close of business today ~ and I don’t have anything in mind really. Think, think, think… oh, bother!
8 responses so far ↓
Heidi // 17 December 2007 at 8:18 am |
This is the picture of Marissa that I said I saw the other day (or, at least, one similar to it~ whatever she has on her own blog)…..
Anyway, she looks gorgeous! Can’t wait to see the even newer look~ sans braces~ in just a few more days! Wow!
Heidi
hiddenart // 17 December 2007 at 8:34 am |
Marissa looks gorgeous and quite grown up.
My daughter was quite thrilled when she had her braces removed, but she less than excited to find she had to wear a retainer the rest of her life.
amanda
Becky Hinchley // 17 December 2007 at 8:47 am |
Julie – She is beautiful!
Becky
debd // 17 December 2007 at 9:05 am |
Julie – Marissa looks beautiful. I love her new hair. I remember getting my braces off. My teeth felt as smooth as pearls and I kept running my tongue over them for days just to feel them.
Michelle // 17 December 2007 at 10:25 am |
WOW, Julie…she is STUNNING!
I remember getting my braces off too. ( I had to wear mine for 4 1/2 years!) Oh boy, was I glad to be rid of them!
Maya // 17 December 2007 at 12:00 pm |
Beautiful girl! I had braces in my thirties and I was SO excited to get them off. I’m glad she could get this done now and be done with it. The retainer thing sucks. I’m terrible. I hardly wear it anymore.
Bobbie // 17 December 2007 at 1:52 pm |
How lovely she is and the highlights make her sparkle like your tree. Her hair down is lovely and I thinl a Braces picture this year might make the Non braces picture a surprise for the New Year? CONGRATULATIONS!
Because of Jesus, Bobbie
followingtheancientpaths // 17 December 2007 at 2:12 pm |
Marissa is a beautiful young lady! I love her hair. I vaguely remember getting my braces off too. But I seem to remember the excitement and anticipation more. I remember it feeling different and liking that I didn’t have my cheeks getting caught on wires anymore.
My daughter is half way through her braces and looking forward to getting them off too.