Saturday my parents had a bonfire at their house and later a hay-bale ride. First it was the “mature” people ride, which really had more to do with making the older folks feel better about their age, and afterwards it was the “immature” people ride, again it had more to do with making the first generation feel OK about their age. After the fourth (or fifth?) round of “the cutest boy…” I was begining to believe I was on the wrong hay-bale ride.
There is something to be said for the aging process, actually there are probably many things to be said about aging. Our culture tends to value youth over age versus the Japanese or Chinese cultur where they value the wisdom that comes with age instead of the foolishness of youth.
I was at work on Saturday morning while a parade on Main Street was passing by (put on by Shriners) and an older man stepped into the Coop to get out of the cold, talk about Shriners or watch… I’m not sure which. As the old Shriner men zoomed by on their itty-bitty, mini scooters, he made the point about these old men trying to pretend they were little kids again. It was a very valid point, in my view.
Women (and some men) dye their hair to avoid grey hairs, women (and some men) mad diet to keep looking youthful, weight loss pills, plastic surgery, clothing to hide figures, clothing to show off figures, and the list goes on. Why can’t we just be who we are? Why do we need to hide behind a mask?
My sincere hope for all people is to accept the age you are… you will only be this age once so live it while you are it. Trying to fool other people is ridiculous and the only person you are fooling is yourself.
