The Real Shades of Gray ~~~

Life is always such a surprise, and maybe that’s the way it’s supposed to be;  after all, it does have the tendency to wake us up and keep us on our toes, doesn’t it.

I was thinking of all the steps and chapters in our lives and those points that always stand out --- you know, like that first kiss, first love, first car, and the list goes on.  But comes the day when the firsts are real eye openers.  I had mine at the age of 62, just a fewwwww years ago (who’s counting), and when I was talking to a blog buddy, the subject came up and so here I am, getting ready to share it with you.  If you are in my age group, we, the now exceptionally learned and bright seniors, you will be nodding your head in agreement all the way. We will call this life chapter,

                                      The Invisibles, part 1, the beginning

 

It all started over a particular Christmas holiday.  As I do every Christmas, I make up gift bags with all sorts of little things and goodies for my neighbors up and down the street.  That year, one of the things going into the bags was a totally yummy homemade candy.  I pulled out the ingredients and realized I was short on the almond bark. Bark is in a block and used in candy recipes, just so you know. This darn candy is on the messy side to make, so once you start, you really need to keep on until it’s done, and that meant I needed to get to the grocery store fast.  I was already dressed, fixed up, and actually looked pretty darn cute, so I went to the store almost hoping I’d run into someone I knew.  You never do, though, unless you’re a mess, true?  On with the story.  I went to the aisle where the bark is always kept and it was gone.  I stood there looking and looking as if by just standing there like a fool it would make the bark magically appear.  Finally an employee, young man of about 20 or so, came up to me and asked if he could help me find anything.  I told him I was looking for the bark and that it was always right here, and he said, he knew exactly what bark was because his mother used it all the time, and yes, it was always right in this spot.  Right then, another young man, also an employee started towards us and he began looking for it, too.  They said, “Could you wait here for a minute or so? We’re going to ask where the bark has been moved”.  Of course I said yes.  Well, I stayed there, barely moved an inch and this was half way up the aisle.  About 5 minutes later, I saw one of them stopping at the edge of my aisle and then the next one calls out to him, “Hey, Bill, who was it that wanted that bark?”  To which good old Bill replied, “That gray haired old lady down there.”   OMG.  Me??  I looked around. There was no one else in the aisle!  Not only did they think I was old, but deaf as well! 

                                                    Part 2, the clincher

This past July 4th, my best friend, Mary, and I decided to go find a place to watch the fireworks.  In the paper was listed a great place to go and it was free and had food wagons and bands, hot diggitty!  We got all gussied up, looked super good if I do say so, and off we went. We zigged and zagged through the crowds until we found a parking spot, then got out and started walking down this very wide walkway packed with people.  We saw the food trucks, we heard the band and boy, it was great, and so decided to stand where we were as it was close to the band.  Feet tapping, almost dancing, beat going down to our toes, it was soooo good!  Then it happened.  Picture this.  Both of us standing there, looking cute as all get out, into the music, and then seeing 2 couples heading straight for us.  Their eyes are definitely looking our way, they are paying attention to where they are, but……they almost mow us down!  And still they didn’t notice!  They just sort of backed up, side stepped, and went on their way without a word or a glance.  Mary and I looked at each other and said, “Holy moly, we’re invisible, they never even saw us before or after!”  Mary said to me, “You mean you’ve never had this happen before?”  No, I hadn’t!  I said, “Hey, let’s just throw off all our clothes and walk around and see if anyone notices, hehehe”.  She nixed that idea.  I’m the much braver of the 2 of us.

And so the next day, I called Mom’s Bob (most of you know who I’m talking about, but he’s down the street and frail and in his 80s and I always keep track of him). I was telling Bob about the night and just before I got to the invisible part, he broke in and he said, “And you both were INVISIBLE, right?””  My mouth fell open. This must happen to everyone!  He said he became invisible in his 60s and always thought it was the most amazing thing.  What we see is that people in our own age group…the Upper Level, if you will (we deserve the caps)….see each other, but the younger never really see us.  Man, what an eye opener!   My blog buddy added to that saying that he isn’t ignored exactly but that if he was speaking, they listened but then went right back to some other subject like it never counted.  Yeah, I get that, too. I think it’s like a science fiction show where time stops for a split second and only one character is still in the Now.  Craziest thing, isn’t it?  

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And so, that is the end of my rambling thoughts for today. I am headed for the grocery store to stock up on a month’s worth of groceries for the impending Wednesday’s surgery.  Tomorrow, Tuesday, is “getting the house ready for myself day”.  I’ve been told that my recoup will be around 2 months or so.  I may not be able to sit at the pc to either write or blog walk for a bit, I just don’t know yet, but if I’m absent, it won’t be like last time.  I’ll be back. Do that with an accent….”I’ll be back!”

XOXOXO