Thursday, February 19, 2015

Old Friend

 

Over 30 years since we have seen each other, we have been sending old photos back and forth along with some new ones. The old ones make us laugh, make us ponder who we believed we were then and who we now believe we were, seeing backwards with older and wiser eyes and hearts.

I said something rueful about not being as lithe and leggy these days; he wrote back, referring to my "vanity." Teasing, I'm sure but it stung for a moment. Who wants to think of oneself as vain?

I'm still not convinced I am. Isn't vanity the province of those who thinks too highly of themselves? That has certainly never been one of my challenges; in fact, quite the opposite. I never think I'm good enough! Even when, looking backwards, I can see that I was.

Anyway, it got me thinking about body image and age and wisdom and the irony of the old saying about youth being lost on the young.

Also this:

The Church says: The body is a sin.

Science says: The body is a machine.

Advertising says: The body is a business.

The body says: I am a fiesta.

~Eduardo Galeano

 

 

And, "Dancers" by Fernando Botero, from a street in Minneapolis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All in all, that old friend my body has been pretty good to me (although like most my age we have spent a few anxious hours in the break-down lane waiting for the tow truck). I can still walk ten miles and wake up and walk again the next day. I can plant a mean garden with only minor complaints from my back. And, after two surgeries I still have vision in both my eyes, my feet remember how to dance, and I can still hit a whiffle ball out of the ballpark to the appreciative audience of my young grandsons.

That's a fiesta in my book!

17 comments:

  1. What a great outlook on life in general. And that statue makes you think about being able to dance at any age or size!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes if you can hike ten miles that is a Fiesta for sure! That is an awesome sculpture... a little cheeky...but different! We were -21 this morning hope you are warmer:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheeky? Did you mean that to be a pun? I'm still laughing!

      Delete
  3. Ah, yes! "The body says: I am a fiesta."
    Señor Galeano is a very wise man! Where is the statue located, please?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. At the end of the old Milwaukee depot at the end of the train yard where the ice skating rink is.

      Delete
  4. I like that quote "body's a fiesta" :) interesting statues.

    ReplyDelete
  5. An interesting analysis of life. However, I believe there is a little bit of the
    "peacock" in every one of us. Some think they have a bit more "peacock"
    than their actual intelligence can cope with and thus we have eg: politicans
    toppling off branches too high up for them.

    Dancers???? Sumo wrestlers more likely.

    Anyone interested in cyclonic weather and torrential rain?
    Please apply to the B.O.M., Brisbane. Qld or any large
    town/city up to Cairns,FNQ.

    Cheers and "Quack Quacks" from "Torrential Brisbane',
    Colin

    ReplyDelete
  6. Cynthia, Iove your post. Life is a great chalenge. Let's go forward to the end..

    ReplyDelete
  7. One day at a time...that's a fiesta! I think we have to look back from time to time to keep things in perspective.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I enjoy reading the comments as well as your post. I thought that looked like the depot behind the Dancers. As for vanity . . . that's a bit harsh, isn't it. I'm not convinced that we share such things out of vanity. Those statues just make me feel colder today, though. Brrr!

    ReplyDelete
  9. A fiesta - indeed it is! I bet that statue raised a comment or two when it went up. It makes me think of "dance like no one is watching."

    ReplyDelete
  10. My body likes siesta as well as fiesta these days.

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a wonderful outlook you have. Keep going :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I like those Botero sculptures, they always make me smile! Don't bother to much with what other people say, you have enough self-knowledge I am sure!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sounds like your body is taking you to a good fiesta. My breaks down rarely and that always reminds me how hard it works for me.

    ReplyDelete
  14. You have a good self image. Go girl. I wish I could walk that far an do it again the next day.Love the statues.

    ReplyDelete
  15. You can walk 10 miles and be OK the next day? Lucky you! I walked 8 miles and was aching the next day. However, three days later I was fine so I will take your advice and be grateful and happy!

    ReplyDelete