Mirror, mirror on the wall
Browsing through Facebook the other day, I came across a photo of an acquaintance who hadn’t posted in over a year. My first thought? Wow, she’s aged! I wondered if something had happened in her life to age her. Then I saw another photo—different acquaintance, same reaction. And then I looked in the mirror. Not a quick glance—no, a real look.
I saw the veins on the backs of my hands, the thickening waistline, the arthritic knees, the sagging neck, and the flabby underarms. You get the picture!
But I also saw the same smile that has lit up my face for decades, and the same sparkle in my eyes. My heart is still full of passion. My mind, still curious. The essence of me remains unchanged.
Last month, during our holiday in Quebec, I reunited with my oldest friend, Laurie. We have been friends since grade three. I spent nearly every weekend and summer with her family at their cabin. Her family was my second home during my childhood and teen years. She now lives in upstate New York, and we hadn’t seen each other in ten years.
When she stepped onto the porch of our vacation rental in Knowlton, I was momentarily startled—she looked exactly like her mother - initially a bit disconcerting. But as we talked, the girl I once knew reappeared. It was fascinating to see someone I had known literally forever and glimpse glances of our past through her facial expressions.
The turn of her head displayed a profile that stirred memories. Her laugh lines crinkled deeply as she spoke of our teen romances. She also still has that joie de vivre she has always had. Her laughter continues to fill a room, this time as she spoke of some of the exploits from our youth. In so many ways, nothing about her had changed.
We laughed as we hobbled into the living room together, comparing our aches and pains. Laurie has had two knee replacements and is waiting for an ankle replacement. The osteoarthritis in my knees has worsened, and I am waiting to see the specialist. She now wears dentures, as she is allergic to dental fillings. I am researching hearing aids.
And then we talked about our children and grandchildren. Who would ever have thought that two thirteen-year-olds who used to sneak into the local bar with fake ID, wanting to dance the night away, would be chatting about our grandchildren at the age of sixty-seven!
We live miles apart and have seen each other only a handful of times over the last forty years. We don’t even talk; we only send each other occasional messages on Facebook. Naturally, we both did a double-take when we saw each other’s aging faces - we were old! But as we talked, it was clear that the essence within us had not changed at all.
