A family in Argentina takes a photo of themselves on the same day - June 17 - every year. The photos of the Golberg family are fascinating as they show the passage of time, the inheritance of characteristics from each parent to each child and the styles that have changed over the past 28 years, since 1976. The pose and arrangement of each successive photo tries to emulate the previous one, so we see the same man, woman or child as they age, year after year, in what looks to be flip cards of images a year apart.
I always wondered how people could forget about the passing of time, how they were confused by their aging, how they could wake up one morning and look in the mirror and wonder who the hell was the old person looking back. Then this past weekend I was in a store picking up a few stocking stuffers for my brother and the girl ringing through my purchases asked if the items were for me or were a gift. I told her they were a gift for my brother, who was 26 and living in Victoria, and she asked me, "how many years are there between you two, eight? nine?"
"Three," I replied.
She packed my goods into a plastic bag and slid the receipt across the counter. "Umm, do you ski or snowboard?"
"I like to ski."
"Yeah, cause your face looks like it's been, you know, out in the cold and snow."
"Oh," I said and left the store with my bag of items, doing the math to find out that she assumed I was 34 or 35, not my actual youthful 29. "I still feel vigorous!" I wanted to shout. I wonder now if I won't look back on that moment as the first in my life when I said to myself, "when did I get so old?"
Posted by James Sherrett at December 13, 2004 05:43 PMWhy is "old" such a swear word?
There should be no negative response to a word that suggests wisdom, experience, and history. I can't wait to be "old"... to know better, to understand more and appreciate my lessons learned. For those who know me, my "youthfulness" will not pass with the growing years!
ps.. there is no reason to assume that your young cashier thought you were "old", in all likelyhood she was jealous of your adventures.
Wait a tick...what are suggesting about those aged 35 (and above)? You'll be hearing from my attorney.
Posted by: Craig at December 14, 2004 09:02 AMWell, your face does look like an old catchers mitt.
I lifted a dumbell today, I'm feeling VIGOROUS!
If you didn't know how old you were, how old would you act?
Just remember, drop the first digit of your age, act like that, and you'll never be over 9. Go out and play in the sandbox for a while, and tell a cute girl that you're looking to catch cooties. (That could be a great t-shirt line)