Everyone else my age is an adult. Whereas I am merely in disguise.
Margaret Atwood
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"The actors are come hither, my Lord." Shakespeare
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I was recently talking with a friend who is about my age and I said that these days I was masquerading as a senior citizen. He said "So am I." He's also an artist.
It's not so much that creative work keeps you young as that it is outside of age altogether. Mozart, in his music, was a wise old man even though he only lived into his 30's, Some writers don't start writing their novels until their 70's or 80's.
In my younger years I triad to be an adult. I wasn't good at it. Back then I thought I knew what an adult was, a serious minded professional, a responsible and contributive member of society with a solid goal and a well defined purpose in life, an authority figure in his chosen line of work. But I was none of those things.
I was a performing artist, an actor, a player. A player is one who plays. Just because I was able to convincingly depict grown ups on the stage didn't mean that I was one.
Furthermore, a serious adult doesn't find anything amusing about the serious issues of life. But I, thank heaven, and to the great scorn of some around me, had a sense of humor which I still have.
Now, if I can't remember someone's name it doesn't throw me into a vortex of grief over losing my memory. After all these years I have a large library of names stacked up in my mind. You can't expect me to remember all of them at the flick of a switch. I send the research assistant who resides in my brain down into the vaults to go through the files until he comes up with it.
I'm still the boy I was 60 years ago, discovering life and gratefully turning my discoveries into things that are beautiful, I hope. Now, in my current disguise, I enjoy playing the role of an adult and a senior citizen. Just don't ask me to grow up. .
DB - The Vagabond
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No smart aleck remarks about Peter Pan, please.
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8 comments:
I think I became an adult very early in life. Out on my own at 17 and then married with children by 18 and 19. My husband went to war, came home and went back to school. I've always had to mind my p's and q's. Getting older is allowing me to find my child inside me. I know this must sound strange. Anne
The key is to balance our professionalism with our zest for life, and have fun at both.
Whoever pacifica62 is I really appreciate all your comments but since I can't tell you blog to blog please accept this as a big thank you.
DB
You are very welcome DB. I am the one who should be thanking you for stretching my mind and challenging my thoughts. You do a very good job of it.
Wow, if an adult is supposed to be all those things, then I will never make it. I don't take life all that seriously most of the time. Much more fun to have a sense of humour and learn to laugh at my foibles. I enjoy being a senior if it means a cheaper price or admission or some special treatment, but other than that I am not old enough to be one, or so I think. I like to think I am young at heart, but my body tells me otherwise.
Happy New Year
Guido
hahaha... well, i can't say i disguise myself as a senior citizen because i think and believe i am. the only problem is, nobody would believe me i am....
did you say not to let anyone ask you to grow up? well, you can say that again.
yes, i do personally have perceived your sense of humour. i suppose that is our only weapon and the best defense mechanism.
thanks for visiting me DB. Am not up to writing sensible blog these days. my own memory suffers too.
my new camera is lost and i wonder why i can't find it. hopefully, i did not loss after the recent house inspection that occurred last week before the new year.
oh by the way, i forgot to greet you a Happy New Year!
Mine was magically uneventful and pretty quiet!
As a child, he was taught to paint as an adult. And as an old man, he declared he had learned to paint like a child.
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