Beautiful days, crisp nights and I am doing OK.
It was the summer of my 21st year and I was living life in the spirit of what that age gives to you. One evening I was in the latest and coolest of the local clubs, dancing to the sounds of The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan. The room was crowded with 20 something aged party-goers but off to the side I spied a group of older patrons and wondered what they were doing there. I thought they were taking up the space that belonged to us, the young, the vital, the hip.
Time marched on...
I am not the sort to spend my time looking back. Life, for the most part has been good to me, although like everybody, there have been pitfalls and sadness. I miss those that have gone before me and do think of them often, but try to dwell on only the good times shared by us.
I often hear contemporaries use the expression of "In my time.", meaning their youth. I look at my time as now, because heck, I am still here. It is the whole journey, not just a portion. Each decade brings with it new adventures, new acquaintences, and new things to learn and experience, no matter if it is good or bad. I may not be as limber as I used to be, but I am still vertical. I can still think, although constant changing technology can befuddle me, but most of the time I can put a few words together and make sense. My time is yesterday, today and I hope, many more tomorrows and I have tried to use it as best I can. Because I have reached an age of invisibility does not mean I have no purpose. Of course, that purpose is defined by me and how rewarding and meaningful I make it. I am always a work in progress.
My friends and I are still vital and hip, even if some have hips that are made of titanium and yes, I am still dancing.
It was the summer of my 21st year and I was living life in the spirit of what that age gives to you. One evening I was in the latest and coolest of the local clubs, dancing to the sounds of The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan. The room was crowded with 20 something aged party-goers but off to the side I spied a group of older patrons and wondered what they were doing there. I thought they were taking up the space that belonged to us, the young, the vital, the hip.
Time marched on...
I am not the sort to spend my time looking back. Life, for the most part has been good to me, although like everybody, there have been pitfalls and sadness. I miss those that have gone before me and do think of them often, but try to dwell on only the good times shared by us.
I often hear contemporaries use the expression of "In my time.", meaning their youth. I look at my time as now, because heck, I am still here. It is the whole journey, not just a portion. Each decade brings with it new adventures, new acquaintences, and new things to learn and experience, no matter if it is good or bad. I may not be as limber as I used to be, but I am still vertical. I can still think, although constant changing technology can befuddle me, but most of the time I can put a few words together and make sense. My time is yesterday, today and I hope, many more tomorrows and I have tried to use it as best I can. Because I have reached an age of invisibility does not mean I have no purpose. Of course, that purpose is defined by me and how rewarding and meaningful I make it. I am always a work in progress.
My friends and I are still vital and hip, even if some have hips that are made of titanium and yes, I am still dancing. 
Well said! I sometimes say 'In Our day' in a tongue-in-cheek kinda way, but yes we do tend to dwell on our youth too much rather than seeing the whole journey. Keep dancing.
ReplyDeleteAs they say, " youth is wasted on the young".
DeleteHello Arleen:
ReplyDeleteBravo! So excellently put. It is a matter of sadness that so many people over a certain age feel that they are invisible men and women in society and offer no useful function. In our view, nothing could be further from the truth. Life is indeed what you make of it and how one deals with Life's difficulties and problems defines one as a person far more than any of the good times do. As the decades roll on we live Life differently but, most importantly we do live it to the full. As we are certain, so do you. Rock on, Arleen!!
Dear Lance and Jane,
DeleteLike you two, I am in it for the duration.
To be invisible amuses me as I become an old contributor to the world. I will never convince a younger generation to do much more than acknowledge me as their busy lives whirl by. May they smile to themselves when they are my age and reflect they are somebody still, but a busy new generation swirls around them.
ReplyDeleteIt comes to us all.
DeleteSo you are going to grow old disgracefully? Brilliant; good for you! You have a wonderful attitude towards life.
ReplyDeleteClick here for Bazza’s Blog ‘To Discover Ice’
As disgracefully as I can, and then some.
DeleteThe years do seem to roll by quick, but I agree with you, Arleen, as good or as mixed as the past was - life is for living now. I like my life in the present and love that saying for the future - 'the best is yet to be'
ReplyDeleteWhatever is to be, will be.
DeleteTime does indeed march on (or in my case gimps on). As long as we keep going forward.
ReplyDeleteAs long as you are still writing, I know you will be happy, Delores.
DeleteArleen, Beautifully said! Life is most definitely what we make of it. I spend my time in different ways than I did in my twenties, but I am still having a wonderful time.
ReplyDeleteLife is about adjusting, and even though the fun we have today is different than a decade or two before, we still go on trucking.
DeletePerfect illustration, Arleen. Forward momentum helps, so I try to walk on a sloping sidewalk.
ReplyDeleteI love that, Susan!
DeleteI love this post. And yes, I continue to wobble forward myself. Invisibility has some real pluses as well. I am a people watcher, and now that I am invisible can do so much more easily.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
That is true. I suppose we can get away with more also since no one really notices us anyway.
DeleteBrava! But I believe invisibility is a survival skill learned in adversity, not strictly a sign of age. Excellent post.
ReplyDeleteYou got a point there.
DeleteI like your site. You blog well. Keep blogging.
ReplyDeleteTerrific post, Arlene. It's sad to see people so hung up on staring in the proverbial rear-view mirror, they fail to appreciate what's all around them and what's on the road ahead. It's okay to glance at the mirror once in a while, but we can't enjoy today by living in yesterday.
ReplyDeleteBeing an old fartessa has its perks. I actually felt more "invisible" as a teenager than I do now. And as for dancing? I no longer give a good diddle what I "look like" on the dance floor, or about making a fool of myself. Who cares? Might as well dance while we still can.
Hey you - I have a new hip!
ReplyDeleteSandi,
DeleteI had a feeling you were a hipster.
It's good to know where you've been but more important to watch where you're headed. And always dance toward it!
ReplyDeleteI saw a commercial for Volkswagen yesterday that reminded me of this post - "It's not the miles, it's how you live them."
ReplyDeleteI may look like I have quite a few miles on me, but I don't feel it.
DeleteDear Arleen, I like thinking of myself as "a work in progress" as you said. I'm finding that writing the on-line memoir on my blog is truly enriching my life today. Those stories from the past led to the "Dee" I am today. And I am grateful for the whole of my life: what has been, what is being, and what will be. Your posting today really helped me realize that. Thank you. Peace.
ReplyDeleteheck! life doesn't even begin till age 50.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm loving this posting :) Like you, I'm living in the now and trying to have a good time. No matter our age, the curiosity of the 'inner child', can keep us embracing all the wonders of life.
ReplyDeleteAnd now they tell us. Whoever 'they' are. That fifty is the new forty and forty is the new thirty and so on...Which kinda' makes me wonder what that makes a ten year old.
And with that, I shall now go and do some skateboarding.
Nice one and have a lovely weekend.
Gary :)
I'm still dancing too.
ReplyDeleteArleen-- I'd so love to meet you! Your zest for life and spunky personality are a wonderful combination. I'd bet you'd be so much fun on a girls night out!!
ReplyDeleteVicki
What a wonderful post! Thank you for so beautifully pointing out things we often take for granted. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I have been known to break out in dance in the school party lot. Folks just laugh and dance with me. Love your writing.
ReplyDeleteNot party lot!!! Parking lot! We are very far from being a party school. :-)
ReplyDelete