November 19, 2007
Then vs. Now
Written by Shirley Karr in Jaunty PostLast weekend a friend from high school was in town. We’ve exchanged phone calls and e-mails and he’s been in regular contact with my mom (who he also addresses as Mom) but this was the first time I’d seen Mark in person since shortly after graduation twenty-some years ago.
Wow, did he get old.
Grey hair, thick waist, multiple kids and even a grandchild or two. I, on the other hand, am still just as youthful as the day I collected my diploma. (Can I interest you in this bridge I have for sale?) I don’t have any gray hair (my hairdresser says she found one once but it was too short for me to see so as far as I’m concerned it doesn’t exist) while Mark is thrilled he still has hair, regardless of its color. And to be fair, most of the salt appeared in his pepper after his dad died last year.
The mental image I’ve carried of Mark is probably from when we were both in the chorus of Fiddler on the Roof, kicking around backstage during rehearsals. Mark had no trouble doing the Russian dance then. Now? Don’t think so.
While Mark and his wife and Mom and I chatted at dinner, if I closed my eyes his mellow tenor voice was exactly as I remembered, other than the fact he was taking cell phone calls from his 18-year-old daughter. (Don’t even get me started on the contrast of his youngest daughter who can vote and my son who needs a binky.) Open my eyes and there’s this old-looking guy across the table. Okay, not old. Mature. But the juxtaposition between memory and reality periodically had me shaking my head in disbelief.
Keep hearing a line from one of the songs in Fiddler: “I don’t remember growing older…” I don’t feel significantly older than I was in high school, though I do have a ton more self-confidence now.
Have you had a wake-up call regarding how much time has actually passed?
2:38 am | Share This
Mary M Says:
I think you are blessed. With your son, you will get to be young twice:)
Shana Says:
Well, Shirley, as you will soon find out, kids make you feel old. One of my sweet students told me the other day, “Miss, you’re getting forehead wrinkles.” I was like, “Thanks. And this one has your name on it.”
Where is my moisturizer?
Taryn Raye Says:
I’m reminded of the passage of time each time my kids ask silly questions like “Were you born in a hospital? Did they have hositals back then?”
Another thing was when an old classmate found me online. He and I didn’t really know each other years ago, but after seeing a picture of him and his weight gain and salt & pepper hair, I couldn’t imagine he was ever the “bad boy” in school! LOL
Remembering my childhood only makes me realize just HOW long ago everything was. My 4 year old has been obsessed lately with “writing a song” called “Time passes so quickly.” LOL Kids.
brownone Says:
We moved to Miami when I was eleven and my parents reconnected with some old friends of thiers. One of them had a daughter who was about three years old. She was always the “little sister” for us. Well, this weekend she’s getting married so now I feel REALLY old. I mean here I am with three brats (one of whom will be ten next Sept!) and eleven years of marriage behind me…where the heck does time go? Next week I’m turning thirty for the third time (I think my kids are on to me)…
JackieToo Says:
The first time was when the first of my siblings’ children that I can remember being born (I was six at the time) had HIS first child.
The second time was not too long ago when I was plucking my eyebrows and realized I was trying to tweeze a wrinkle!
Margo Maguire Says:
As I work on preparations for Thanksgiving at our house, I realize this will be our 22nd(!!) holiday season in this house. It seems like we were just moving in, with me 7 months pregnant with my middle child. Yeah - time flies!
Shirley Karr Says:
Too funny, Jackie! Brownone, I’m turning 39 again next month…
Got an e-mail from my niece Becca recently, who said she thinks it’s funny she has a first cousin that’s an infant, while Becca’s son just started kindergarten. How does she think it feels having an infant when my sisters each have a grandchild?
*Older* sisters, I must point out. Much older…