Aging

For some unknown reason, I don’t expect people to age unless I personally observe the process. How shocking it is to meet a co-worker of a decade ago and realize she now looks ten years older! Perhaps I am not alone in this misperception.

Not long ago I went to the funeral of a distant relative. No one else could make time in the schedule to attend, and we all felt there should be some representation from our branch of the family tree. After the service, people kept congratulating me on my youthful appearance. “You look WONDERFUL,” yet another third cousin cooed. Then she called me by the wrong name, and everything fell into place. There’s simply no graceful way to phrase the information. May as well blurt it out. “I’m not Billie. I’m her daughter.” It was almost worth it to see the stunned reaction. Almost.

Carlene Havel,author of "A Hero's Homecoming"
http://www.prismbookgroup.com/AHerosH...