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THE OLDER MAN TOLD ME HE LOOKED LIKE A M & M!!!

The man looked in the mirror and was taken back by the reflection he saw staring back at him. He looked at the reflection and asked, "Who the hell are you?" He had not realized how much he had aged, and, he looked so different than he actually felt...

He told me about this, and, I laughed at him. He did not think it was funny at all. He showed me a picture of himself from years back, and, I have to admit, he did not look anything like he looked today.

He told me that he looked like an M & M. I laughed so hard that he finally laughed as well. It was a comical description, yet, I could understand where he was coming from. He had shrank some over the years, and, with his paunchy stomach and skinny legs, he could surely be an M & M...

Aging is something which we have to face. It is not something we look forward to, especially when it takes over, faster and faster, until we look in the mirror and do not recognize ourselves...

The man above also told me that he did not feel old, even though there were some things he could no longer do with ease, and, every time he looked into the mirror he was surprised and depressed. He could not understand why he did not feel as old as he looked. I had no answer. I tried desperately to make him feel better by telling him that I thought he was cute, which he was, but, he would just tear up...

This was one of my many encounters with the aging process; a second hand journey into the minds and feelings of the elderly. They are blatantly descriptive in their anger of aging. I have met only a few who do not complain or joke about it.

I have learned much about aging from these people. They have scared the hell out of me! I am worried about it now. And, the side effects, such as too much medication, high insurance premiums, illnesses, failing health, nursing homes and their costs: well, they have not painted a pretty picture for me.

I was always so easy going about aging. I knew for sure that I wanted to age gracefully. Now, I don't know if there is such a thing. One thing I know for sure is that I will not scare some young person with my horror stories about aging. They will find out soon enough...

And so, the aging process goes on; each day I am older. Each day I am that much closer to looking like a stranger, feeling like I can't go on, and, that much closer to viewing all of those in my age bracket as different colored M & M's... Ha! It will be like being high on laughing gas or something, only it will never go away... Don't worry, I will be fine with aging. I really have no choice, and, when I look in the mirror and see someone different looking back at me, I will make friends with them, otherwise they could be the worst enemy ever known...

2 comments:

Bonez said...

Boy, I can identify with this post. I too have dreaded the aging "problem" and haven't handled it as gracefully as I would like. At least, internally. I too hesitate to share my aging anxieties with younger people because they don't need to begin dreading something that will inevitably happen no matter what they do to attempt to avert it. I don't feel older and understand the "shock" of trying to come to grips with that stranger looking back at me in the mirror. You're right... we've got to become friends because nothing else will allow us peace of mind.

Lynda said...

Hi there Tony! I think you have a way to go before you reach the level of being where this man was... You are right though we have to become friends with the reflection in the mirror, as there is no other one forthcoming... Ha! Life is bittersweet, isn't it... Thanks for visiting and your comment, appreciate it much!!!