Well, I do often like the cloak of invisibililty, it releases one from societal norms and the thought that I must conform and behave as 65 year old women! I wear what I want, create what I want and seek out the company of other "oldsters" who have so much to offer me!
Yes Sarah it seems to be true that there are positives to not to being overly preoccupied with our new reflections in the mirror. I find I am liberated from over thinking how others may perceive me too . I hear you re energy levels and bodily limitations though..Sigh!
I’ve also always had a fantasy about being invisible and how liberating it would be - what a gift of getting older! I enjoyed your very touching and positive over-hearings…
Thank you so much Jane ! Yes it would permit us to have lots of fun and mayhem to be truly invisible wouldn't it ?:-)..but currently it has a few perks too!
The invisibility for me is often bittersweet. I now look through a window at bursting youth or as you write, "the energized musical voices of teenage youth ... deep in their communion with each other". A place I reminisce more often about these days - as I too once lived in the bright Spring of youthful years. And now I understand and feel more of what Wordsworth often wrote about, such as in his Intimations: "What though the radiance which was once so bright - Be now forever taken from my sight, Though nothing can bring back the hour, Of splendour in the grass, Of glory in the flower ..."
The glory of youth, to then be followed by one's own aging and one's growing invisibility. But inside, yes, inside, I'm still the same soul - my soul remains as young as ever. Only my body has aged. But still, the primal sympathy remains ... and on that, even though I am now looking through a window of what was and will not be again (at least in this particular life), it will suffice (for now) for my all too human heart.
""I have aged, but my heart is still young, we are still the same age in our soul. Don't regret growing old, it's a privilege that not everyone has." ~Richard Gere
Oh Jamenta ..This is such a moving response to my post .Your quotations are so relatable also. We are indeed the same souls inside . Thank you for sharing your thoughts
What a wonderful commentary on aging and invisibility. I’m enjoying this time in my life and I’m actually happy to not think or worry about being seen, especially the male gaze! There is a freedom I feel that was not there as a younger person. I feel confident and more connected to myself than ever before. With the wisdom of time, I know, things will work out or they won’t and either way I’ll handle it.
Enjoyed your musings and sketches very much Heather, an set about considering my own invisibility as a 75 year old! As a non- American Kiwi, would it be rude to ask what city in America you were writing from?
Thank you kindly Gary! It would not be rude at all to ask me where I am from. I was visiting the city of my youth -Toronto Ontario,Canada ..I currently live in rural Ontario aout 2 hours north of Toronto . I believe we are very visible to each other when we pay attention :-)
I was so surprised to read this; I could have written it myself! I wonder if we were in the city at the same time (Nov 26-27). I, too, visited the city of my birth as a birthday gift to myself; walked down Yonge Street like I owned the place, recognizing how much it had changed. I loved the feeling of moving about freely with comfort and anonymity, people watching on the subway, at a cafe and trying out the Shake Shack, attending the theatre and visiting a photography exhibit at what I still call "Ryerson", Indigo books and an art store. I've never felt I could sketch openly though but am still evisisoning what I saw, felt and to whom I spoke. ... so before those images leave me, perhaps I should try to create them on paper.
Hi Janice I was in Toronto the 19th and 20th but close enough! Like minds and all that ! what a fantastic way to spend your birthday ! After living rural a trip to the city is a different kind of tonic isn't it? The anonymity and stimuli are a kind of a rush. Thanks for posting!
Well, I do often like the cloak of invisibililty, it releases one from societal norms and the thought that I must conform and behave as 65 year old women! I wear what I want, create what I want and seek out the company of other "oldsters" who have so much to offer me!
Yea! Nora!! :-)
I guess there is a positive side to aging in that it gives us the freedom of invisibility. I miss energy levels and flexibility of the body however!
Yes Sarah it seems to be true that there are positives to not to being overly preoccupied with our new reflections in the mirror. I find I am liberated from over thinking how others may perceive me too . I hear you re energy levels and bodily limitations though..Sigh!
I’ve also always had a fantasy about being invisible and how liberating it would be - what a gift of getting older! I enjoyed your very touching and positive over-hearings…
Thank you so much Jane ! Yes it would permit us to have lots of fun and mayhem to be truly invisible wouldn't it ?:-)..but currently it has a few perks too!
The invisibility for me is often bittersweet. I now look through a window at bursting youth or as you write, "the energized musical voices of teenage youth ... deep in their communion with each other". A place I reminisce more often about these days - as I too once lived in the bright Spring of youthful years. And now I understand and feel more of what Wordsworth often wrote about, such as in his Intimations: "What though the radiance which was once so bright - Be now forever taken from my sight, Though nothing can bring back the hour, Of splendour in the grass, Of glory in the flower ..."
The glory of youth, to then be followed by one's own aging and one's growing invisibility. But inside, yes, inside, I'm still the same soul - my soul remains as young as ever. Only my body has aged. But still, the primal sympathy remains ... and on that, even though I am now looking through a window of what was and will not be again (at least in this particular life), it will suffice (for now) for my all too human heart.
""I have aged, but my heart is still young, we are still the same age in our soul. Don't regret growing old, it's a privilege that not everyone has." ~Richard Gere
Oh Jamenta ..This is such a moving response to my post .Your quotations are so relatable also. We are indeed the same souls inside . Thank you for sharing your thoughts
What a wonderful commentary on aging and invisibility. I’m enjoying this time in my life and I’m actually happy to not think or worry about being seen, especially the male gaze! There is a freedom I feel that was not there as a younger person. I feel confident and more connected to myself than ever before. With the wisdom of time, I know, things will work out or they won’t and either way I’ll handle it.
I love your wise and wonderful perspective Indigene ! The confidence and freedom that comes with age and time can not be underestimated !
I remember that comic of the invisible man!
I love the OS library! Great thoughts Heather!
Thanks Lorrie !
Enjoyed your musings and sketches very much Heather, an set about considering my own invisibility as a 75 year old! As a non- American Kiwi, would it be rude to ask what city in America you were writing from?
Thank you kindly Gary! It would not be rude at all to ask me where I am from. I was visiting the city of my youth -Toronto Ontario,Canada ..I currently live in rural Ontario aout 2 hours north of Toronto . I believe we are very visible to each other when we pay attention :-)
I was so surprised to read this; I could have written it myself! I wonder if we were in the city at the same time (Nov 26-27). I, too, visited the city of my birth as a birthday gift to myself; walked down Yonge Street like I owned the place, recognizing how much it had changed. I loved the feeling of moving about freely with comfort and anonymity, people watching on the subway, at a cafe and trying out the Shake Shack, attending the theatre and visiting a photography exhibit at what I still call "Ryerson", Indigo books and an art store. I've never felt I could sketch openly though but am still evisisoning what I saw, felt and to whom I spoke. ... so before those images leave me, perhaps I should try to create them on paper.
Hi Janice I was in Toronto the 19th and 20th but close enough! Like minds and all that ! what a fantastic way to spend your birthday ! After living rural a trip to the city is a different kind of tonic isn't it? The anonymity and stimuli are a kind of a rush. Thanks for posting!