On Geezer's Lap

To what childishness does man descend in his ripe old age, when he allows himself to be held by the leash of sensuousness.

Immanuel Kant
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Growing older is not for the squeamish. It is filled with surprises, unexpected changes, adaptations and reevaluations. And there are things that must be left behind, and one of them is childhood, that which Shakespeare referred to as "second childishness." To be perpetually young at heart is a very good and useful thing, but though childhood may not end when you're 20, it had better have ended by the time you're 80.

I always get a chuckle when I see a photograph of a skinny old geezer flashing thousands of dollars of false teeth, with a young buxom blonde in big hair sitting on his lap, his wife. What's going on? Is he trying to recapture his adolescents? Or to get the youth he never had because he was too busy making his fortune? Is he trying to tell us that in spite of his age and lack of hair and teeth he's still a virile young man? Or is he simply saying "Look what I have" thinking he's roped in a beauty with his money and has her on his leash.? The fact is she's the one holding the leash and either he doesn't know it or he doesn't care.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not against loving relationships between people of different ages. In the long run age should have nothing to do with it. It's true that young people usually want someone who has the same amount of energy as they do. And it's advantageous for older folks to have someone around with some life experience. "The sadder but wiser girl for me" Meredith Wilson wrote. But I've seen many examples where it works out well if people come together from different ages.

I knew a broadcaster, an excellent one and a senior citizen, whose wife was a couple of decades younger than he. They were completely dedicated to each other. And in the theatre I knew a stage manager whose husband was much younger than she was. I saw them once at a party and it was obvious they were very much in love with each other.

So if an old coot wants a young wife that's fine with me. Just let the reasons for it be about love and a shared life, not about money or power. If you ever see me at 90. all skin and bones, smiling like a fool, with a Dolly Parton wannabe sitting on my lap, shoot me.

DB - The Vagabond
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Weekend Contest
Below are the name of three fictitious law firms. Read them carefully and then come up with your own example. You may enter more than once but the decision of the irascible judge is final.

Chase & Sewer
Huchlein & Sincker
Locke, Stock & Beryl

4 entries so far.
Good luck
DB
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