On a recent trip downtown, I ran into an old acquaintance. She mentioned kindly how much she enjoyed my good aging column, and how inspiring and uplifting it was for older folks. She went on to say whenever friends of a similar age came to visit her, they invariably got into discussing body parts. I knew exactly what she meant.

My Friday lunches with five gal friends have little to do with food. We each select the same dish. Our regular waitperson knows our orders by heart. The food is great, but it’s not the highlight of our gathering. We meet for companionship and stimulating conversation.

We’re a lively bunch of seniors always ready to delve into fun and meaningful chats. We talk about families, current events, health, our beautiful and beloved dogs, ugly politics, and the often-daunting process of aging.

When we get into the area of aging — like that acquaintance I chatted with brought up — body parts are a hot topic. Starting from the bottom up, we’ve discussed what to put on our feet. A supportive walking shoe, something suitable for feet that have gotten wider and toes that have gotten sorer, won the vote. Moving on, who’s next in line for some body-part replacement surgery? What’s the latest treatment for back issues? Who’s had success with physical therapy? How about a chiropractor for that neck pain? Anybody try acupuncture?

Migraines come up now and then with all the newest buzz on treatment, and what’s the latest supplement regime for gut health? Who among us is a candidate for cataract surgery and in need of hearing aids? And recently, our lunch conversation took an interesting turn. We had a gabfest about hair.

The hair topic was started by one of us who has a lovely head of curls. After many months of being unhappy with her ‘do, she had finally found a stylist who gave her a good cut and also found a reasonably priced gel that enhanced her locks. She looked great. We all chimed in with varying hair experiences from cuts to color, straight or curled, long or short, best salons, varying prices. It came down to what made each of us happy with how we looked, and we all looked wonderful. The hair discussion reminded me of another old gal pal whose hair and makeup candor has stuck with me for years.

Over wine and cheese after a busy shopping trip, I complimented this fun friend on her new pixie hairdo. “Yep,” she said, “got sick of paying big money for fancy cuts impossible to style. Went to a barber for short and plain and couldn’t be happier.” I commented that the pixie look showed off her lovely face and vibrant lipstick. With strong conviction she added, “Lipstick is all the makeup I wear these days. If I attempt mascara, I miss my lashes and smudge the stuff all over my face and can’t see well enough to tweeze and fill in my brows. Besides, the chin hairs keep me busy enough.”

I admit to having spent a good deal of time and money on hair and makeup in my younger years. When my blond started to fade, I colored. When I was going out, the greasepaint went on. But then I had an “a-ha” moment. Having to attend two weddings in one day, I wanted to be well put-together with everything staying in place for the duration. I made appointments with a hair stylist, makeup artist, and a manicurist. Bought a new dress, put on three-inch heels, looked great, and spent an entire day miserably uncomfortable. It was time for a change.

Revamping my style didn’t come overnight. Change is hard, but worthwhile. I’ve found my comfort zone. These days I, too, wear very little makeup and dress for comfort. I keep my hair short, with no coloring, and very little expense. But through the grand metamorphosis, I’ve come to a hair-raising conclusion. While I boast about not fussing over my locks or my looks, I spend a ton of money having my dog groomed.

Let’s keep up those good aging spirits.

Carole Marshall is a former columnist and feature writer for a national magazine. She’s had stories published in Chicken Soup for the Soul books and has written two novels and one fitness book. She is Mom, Grandma, and Great-Grandma to some spectacular kiddos.