We had a chance to be with friends from 50 years ago. We observed heavier bodies, bigger stomachs, more facial wrinkles and bigger bags under the eyes. There have been times when we felt ashamed of these features of our own bodies but now we feel differently.
Since many of the most beautiful people we know share these developments, we don't feel cast out or down or disfigured. In fact, we are feeling figured.
It is clear that it takes several decades for a twenty year old to develop these proud signs of successful avoidance of predators and continuing breathing. Very likely, those make-up specialists that work on models and actors could make us think, at least temporarily, that a 20-something was part of our group. I guess much of the original impulse to look young relates to the male sex drive. If I were a 38 year old actress, I might work hard at looking what seems to be 28 years old. That certainly seems to be a strategy that many actresses, and actors as well, take.
Of course, there is also the avoidance of death. Sometimes, we fall into thinking that if we look 39, death won't see us.
I suppose politicians and other public figures find it helpful to work at keeping a figure that says 'youth' and 'energetic'. But as the pain in our joints increases and we get hips, knees, and shoulders replaced, as we pant up stairs and wait for elevators, we know full well that we are not built the way we used to be. However, we are finding that there would be no point to being as experienced, accomplished and satisfied as we are, and still have those capacities to run, score and mate the way we did. We did those things and we are proud of that, but we are in a different stage now. It can be difficult for youngsters to believe, but it can actually be a bit repetitive to even contemplate the effort, the tension, the anxiety we used to carry around.
We are fully alive now and we like our balanced, steady lives. We realize that it took a long life to build our present bodies and minds and it is right to bear the fruits of those lives proudly.
--
Bill
Main blog: Fear, Fun and Filoz
Main web site: Kirbyvariety
