They fell in love when they were young
at that time their love was all the rage
and through their jobs,
their children
their ups and downs
their love remained engaged.
With the children grown
an empty house now became their stage
and their passion was rekindled
as they reached their middle age.
And now much older than before
they find their love is still the rage
as they settle down together
in the glory of old age.
We stopped to let them walk by us…an old woman leading and old man
She was apologetic. She said, “Forgive us…we’re moving as fast as we can.”
She said, “you wouldn’t know to see him now”
her face grew sad and long
“but in his day he was big and tall…intelligent and strong.”
She said he was a lawyer…here a smile crossed her face…
and I don’t think in all his life…he ever lost a case.”
She said, “I was a full-time wife and mother.
I was once young and lean and fit.
Together we raised four children…
and I loved every minute of it.
“I also loved to sing and dance and, if the truth be known,
I didn’t always dance with him…sometimes I’d dance alone.”
She smiled at the two of us…a smile both friendly and kind
and I noticed as they passed us
how their shadows walked obediently behind.
And I observed as they walked away…
and to each other’s arms they clung
how their shadows didn’t show the ravages of age…
how their shadows seemed so young…
And I thought wouldn’t it be great if as we all grow older
and begin to walk a little more erratically
if our shadows kept showing silhouettes
of all people we used to be.
How wonderful to be followed by a movie of our life
played out in shadows for all to see…
So people would know not just the old person walking in front of them…
but to all the persons we used to be.
It is said life is one big circle which begins with our first breath
the circle then completes itself the moment of our death
Many of us begin our circle…when but a little time has passed
in a hospital…protected…behind a window made of glass.
It’s where our friends and relatives first visit us…
They come from near and far..it’s funny how they already know us
before we discover who they are.
In all likelihood we never noticed them…those who stop or wave or pass
Never noticed who was standing behind that window made of glass….
There are many in this pandemic…in whose circle much time has passed
who find themselves once again protected…behind a window made of glass.
Only now when their friends and relatives come to visit…
when they come from far and wide…
the person behind the window knows who’s on the other side.
And there is a sadness mixed with happiness to these moments…
Happy they can be together…happy to be seen
but sad the only way to touch each other is with a window in between…
Still reflected in the window…we can see their smiles shine…
Happy at least to have found a way…for their circles to intertwine.
And so we hope and pray for them
Hope and pray this pandemic will soon pass….
and they don’t end their lives as they began them…
behind a window made of glass.
Old age doesn’t burst through the door…it takes time for it to arrive…
then one day you find yourself heading out to dinner at a little after five.
Hey, it pays to get there early…there are specials on the menu to be read,
and we wanted to get back in time to watch the news…before we went to bed.
After we entered the restaurant and to our seats we strolled
I decided to keep my jacket on…to counteract the cold.
When I first picked up the menu…I admit I was appalled
I thought, what am I reading…a contract…this print is much too small.
And I saw our waitress’s lips move when she handed us our bread
but she must have been talking in a whisper because I didn’t hear a word she said.
As I commented on the menu’s print, how loud it was….and how cold
I suddenly came to the realization…I have gotten old.
So I resolved I would embrace it…I smiled at Deborah, my wife
zipped up my jacket then proceeded to eat my tuna sandwich…
with my fork and knife.
After the waitress said “Thank you honey!” and from the restaurant we debarked…
I said, “That was a lovely evening…do you remember where we parked?”
On our way home I commented to Deborah about how our meal tasted great
except I was a little unnerved by that old guy across the room
who seemed to be watching everything I ate.
She happily pointed out I was looking at a mirrored wall
and that old guy watching me…was me…
In my defense the lighting was a little dim
and my eyes aren’t what they used to be…
As I say old age does not burst through the door…
it takes time for it to arrive
Sometimes it sneaks up on you …
at a restaurant…
while you’re eating dinner…
a little after five.
His question was a simple one…if the truth be told.
The answer…not so simple:
What’s the best way to grow old?
He received a myriad of responses.
Some said the best way to grow old is wealthy
others said where the weather’s warm
still others mentioned healthy
Some said they would like to grow old with dignity and grace
others merely wrote: with a smile on my face
Some said they’d like to grow old in the house where their children grew
others thought that wisdom would help to see them through…
In reading all the responses…he felt extremely blessed
but one answer he discovered stood out from all the rest.
One couple did not mention money,
or health
or any kind of weather
In answer to the best way to grow old…
they simply wrote:
together
I used to make fun of my dad’s age…saying with loving youthful vigor
“How come you’re getting shorter but your ears and nose are so much bigger?”
Oh, Dad would try to make a witty comeback…but usually it would bomb.
(makes me wonder where I got my talent for humor…must have been from Mom!)
So I guess it’s only payback or Karma…now that I’m one of the older folks
that I must listen to my children and grandchildren as they crack their old man jokes.
Like when they remind me how I’m over the hill and how I’m beginning to shrink…
And when they mention how my nose and ears are bigger…
I wonder…do they know they’re not as funny as they think?
They laugh when I say, “It’s nine o’clock…time to go to bed.”
and God forbid I ask, “Have you seen my glasses?”
when they’re perched upon my head.
They joke about my lack of hair and when their laughter clears
they remind me if I’m looking for hair…check inside my nose and ears.
In truth…I am quite content with getting older…I don’t think it is unfair.
I don’t mind a bit that I am bald because I never have to comb my hair.
And with my nose the size of a cucumber and two enormous ears
there are so many delicious aromas I smell…
so many wonderful sounds I hear.
Besides growing old is a part of life…we’re all growing older every day
and how wonderful it is to pause…and laugh at myself along the way.
I also smile as I sit back listening to these old jokes unfold…
knowing what a wonderful journey it’s been getting to be this old…
Finally, I have the satisfaction of knowing as joke after joke they tell bomb…
they didn’t get their talent for humor from me…(must have got it from their mom).
Isn’t it curious how, when we were young
we had a simple view of dreams and memory?
Memories showed us how things were
and dreams…how things could be.
But now that we are older
we have a different point of view
as memories now remind us
of our dreams that have come true.
And isn’t it curious how when we were young
the world was fun, and innocent…and new
still secretly we wished
to do what grown-ups do?
But now that we are older,
and the world is not as fun, or innocent…or new
secretly we wish
to do what children do?
Now that I am older…I love visiting the child I used to be
who would ride his bike out in the rain…or climb the highest tree…
Who believed in Santa Claus, saw faces in the clouds…
and never wondered why...
when he looked up on a moonless night...he saw starfish in the sky.
Who never cared about how he looked, or how much money his parents made
Who thought peek-a-boo and hide-and-seek were the best games ever played
Who could sit among the flowers watching the butterflies and bees…
Whose eyes were surprised more often…who was more innocent and free.
Now that I am older…I often stop to wonder…sometimes I fantasize
What the world would be like if we all grew up but kept our child’s eyes…
Would we be unable to see differences in our color, sex or name?
Would we smile and talk to everyone as if we’re all the same?
Would we welcome every visitor who enters through our door?
Would our world be one of peace and love?
Would we not think of war?
I have no proof things would be different…
but now that I’m older, as I say, I like to fantasize…
what our world would be like today
if we still saw it through our child’s eyes.