Abs of Steel and the Old Hag

[kdmac]

Today was sunny and warm on the Rogue River. I took my lawn chair and my book and drove to a wonderful spot on the bank above the raging river. Just a wild place where the river is forced into several narrow rapids. At this point in time it's required to sign up for any river running activities due to the current flooding conditions..amazing backwashes a very exciting river to watch. I heard voices and looked up and here comes an inflatable river raft with three perfect human specimens in it, youth and beauty rarely seen on an average day. As soon as they came down the narrow shoot they hit the backwash like a brick wall, out they flew two of them into the raging river. Immediately they manuevered themselves in the proper foot forward position and were being carried away. The remaining fellow threw the life buoy to one but unsuccessful, he reeled it in and attempted again; gave it so much ompf that he fell out of the boat...three overhead strokes and he was back to the boat...his strength and speed had to be an adrenaline surge, he was in that boat in less than a second, up on his feet threw the buoy again and succeeded, then rowed like a madman toward the other fellow by this time out of my sight...I knew they would be ok due to their youth and strength this fellows level-headed effort and speed.

I settled back to my chair and meditated on the reality that I will never know youth and beauty again, never be the cause of a double-take, never join river rafters, never ski the powder, never climb Mt Rainer, it's all in the past. Even two years ago I didn't consider these realities, now it's actually here....It's ok, as this is the way of things...but right at the begininng when it is so quickly evident it tugs at the heart a little. Anyway, all of that said to segway to what happened next. A $150,000 completely decked out shiny black Range Rover pulls off the road thriry feet from me...and out comes two of those beautiful athletes...firm hard chests, beautiful structure and form, black skin-tight wet suits unzipped exposing abs of steel...they knew I was there, but treated me as one of the invisible old people, like a witch hag, spent and useless. They were running along the river feverishly scoping the rapids....I knew it was them. I said, "Are you the guys that had the spill?" they said they were and were wondering just where it happened, so I took them to my view spot and relived it with them...It was odd to feel like their grandmother instead of a pretty woman...they thanked me and wished me a good evening.

When they tell this story for years to come they will mention the old woman they saw along the road who showed them where it happened. They will refer to me as
"an old woman".




kdmac

Posts: 45
Joined: Tue Mar 29, 2011 12:55 pm
Location: Washington State
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[mitch5252]

..

You wrote, in beautiful prose, my exact feelings.
Thank you for this post.
So insightful.
Just blew me away.

..

[AlmostThere]

Beautifully written, Kathy. I saw it all in my mind and felt all the emotions, too.

[VickieP]

Ditto what Mitch and Lenora said, beautifully written, emotionally felt. Thank you.

[JudyJB]

Ah, but just think of the wisdom and experience you have over those "perfect" humans!

To slightly bend a Seuss quotation, "Oh, the places you've been!"

[Carolinagal]

You write so well, this is all sooooo true. The really sad part of this truth is that on the inside, who really feels like that 'old woman?'

CArol

[kdmac]

You write so well, this is all sooooo true. The really sad part of this truth is that on the inside, who really feels like that 'old woman?'

CArol

That is exactly right! Who really feels like that "old woman"? We've spent out lives so far being young and vibrant and still feel that way. But, the reflection in the mirror adds a new chapter that I am being forced to read. Becoming the "invisible people" isn't something we are by choice, it's something that happens to us.

Even though I sadly watch the way I age in the mirror and am painfully aware of the way I am now perceived in public as an "invisible old woman" I will always remember some advice I gave years ago to a beautiful young employee I had.... "Be sure to develop your inner beauty, your spirit, your relationship with God, because one day your exterior beauty will vanish, the bloom will be off the rose, then what will you have?"

[Colliemom]

And I might add, it was beautifully written as well. I could feel the emotion of the moment as I read it. And the suspense.

Yes, unfortunately we all become that "old women" as time goes on. I can see it in the mirror. The added weight I've put on this winter, the hair starting to get more grey, not having quite the strength I used to have etc. And I look back at my life and all the things I did in my youth, and the things I still want to do and think of how many years I might hve left to do them. When we were young, time seemed forever, we had years to do thngs. Now we are older and time is getting short and we wonder if we will get to do those things. That health issues or other things will get in the way. And I think of the things I used to love to do that I am no longer doing cause they don't interest me anymore or for various other reasons. But I also think of the new adventures I have set for myself by buying an RV and setting forth to venture and enjoy meeting new people, seeing new sights etc. So we are in our "second childhood", doing things in a different way. Now we are "grandma" or that "old women" driving an RV.

[mtngal]

Yes, so beautifully written expressing your feelings (and clearly those of others too).
Loved your description of the Rogue, it must be amazing this time of year!

[dayspring39]

Very well written Kathy... my life was upside down... this time in my life with all of the ailments in full bloom I feel this is the best time of my life... to go and see, to talk and tell, to know what the things we see mean, much more than in youth... with age comes a certain wisdom never known in youth...
Kathleen

[Liz]

I always love your descriptions and introspections.

[kdmac]

I sure don't want to be a doomsdayer, I was just caught in a "moment-in-time" where I was "an old lady parked by the river" to these young fellas. But, in reality I am soooo excited about the way things are now. I am just DRIVEN!!! (no pun intended) by an all encompassing need to travel down any road I want in my RV and soak up everything that lifestyle has to offer...In hindsight, those beautiful young athletes were on a weekend vacation...they have to go back to work...I don't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bethers]

I sure don't want to be a doomsdayer, I was just caught in a "moment-in-time" where I was "an old lady parked by the river" to these young fellas. But, in reality I am soooo excited about the way things are now. I am just DRIVEN!!! (no pun intended) by an all encompassing need to travel down any road I want in my RV and soak up everything that lifestyle has to offer...In hindsight, those beautiful young athletes were on a weekend vacation...they have to go back to work...I don't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Exactly - I wouldn't want to be them - and have their lives now - although the female version of their bodies would be good - which I've never had

I'm doing things the last couple years I wouldn't have tried when I was younger. I'm banishing some fears (banished a big one when I took the motorcycle saftey course and got my scooter - boy I miss that scooter). Banished another when I went ziplining. There are many young people who look horrified when I say I traveled Baja, which I'd do again (and will do again) in a heartbeat.

Yes, I'm becoming an "old woman" and I'm proud of it!

One thing I'm lucky about - is the major force that would have made me feel "old" was the loss of hearing. But I lost it young, so it isn't an "age" issue with me. Ha, I just said something was lucky about losing hearing. hahahahaha

I do so love the way you write. Keep doing it.

I am still worried though about the 3rd young man - you say only 2 were looking -

[kdmac]

Yah, that's funny; of the three men in the raft only two were back there looking along the river...I knew right away that they were looking for where and why they "toppled" out of the raft...I'm certain the third man was back at the predetermined pullout beach safe-guarding the raft and equipment. If he was missing they would be searching much further downstream from where they toppled, right out in front of me. If it wasn't for the power and level-head of the remaining one in the raft it could have been a different story, and if all had fallen out and been void of the raft I would have been on the phone in a hot second. I knew they were going to make it.

It really was fun to watch, everything happened so fast. they were operating at adrenaline levels, while the two guys were being taken down the river the raft and occupant were right along with them...throwing life buoys, falling out getting back in, all speeding down the river for me to watch...

Yes, I would do a zipline in a hot second!!!....but I imagine they have a "weight restriction" LLLOOOOLLLLL

[cpatinjones]

Well said. I thought I was the only one feeling like that.