I thought I enjoyed aging. My impressions have told me that, for some people, aging is a fearful thing. I never really understood and felt slightly alienated by the difference.
For some people, childhood was a utopia; one long, carefree summer vacation. Life sprouted complexities during teenage years, but energy eloped with beauty, providing plenty of excitement. However, between young adulthood and seniorhood, something changes. Perhaps it's the mortgages and minivans. Whatever the case, old age appears as Hitler himself. Once again physical beauty has eloped. Even the eyes of the beholder struggle for a glimpse. Glasses are mistaken for protective, bullet-proof devices. Hair and hearing become endangered species, while original joints are altogether extinct. Teeth have attained the status of the stars: they come out at night.
I don't anticipate diapers and denture glue; I simply view aging differently. Age is beautiful, for age brings wisdom. While physical beauty declines with age, wisdom only grows stronger and more beautiful each day. Age provides wisdom to appreciate small things. Age provides wisdom to extract every ounce out of life. Age provides wisdom to live more fully.
Or so I thought. I'm not so certain now. You see, age also brings change. Sometimes change is fun; sometimes... it's not. Whether good or bad, life can never be the way it was.
I recently experienced a most curious encounter with time. I was wandering outside at night, under a beautifully clear sky. I raised my hand to obscure the rising moon, when I heard it: a steady tick... tick... tick. Irony of ironies, I thought. Lost in the unchanging timelessness of the heavens, I listened to single seconds silently slipping away - never to return.
"What day is it?" asked Pooh.
"It's Today," squeaked Piglet.
"My favourite day," said Pooh.
I'm trying to understand something, why is it that guys who have the magical touch with words, also like to wonder outside under the clear night sky?
ReplyDeleteits weird, i'm only saying this cos you're not the first writer i've "known" {of} who likes walks in the nights.
...moving on....
this is beautiful, everything about it, but i'm pretty sure i say that about all your posts :p
keep writing! :)
I think it's the solitude that draws us. For me personally, astronomy is fascinating, so it's a contradicting combination of mental rest and excitement. And it's a great place to generate ideas; they just happen out there. ;)
DeleteThank you! For both the compliments and encouragement.
Love your thoughts....especially the "minivans and mortgages, and teeth with star status!"
ReplyDeleteI, sitting at my (quite) public desk did a small out laugh at the beginning. Made me think of me's da. The origianal jokes part. Then by the end I had a small tear. This is simply lovely. You write (quite!) cleverly.
ReplyDelete