Wrinkles in time

*****

My adult son and I were in the game store when an old man in his 70's peered inside the glass door his left making a door on the side of his left cheek

notices me and smiles widely, eagerly pulling open the store door, flashing his yellow teeth at me he catches his breath before speaking, his eyes change

and he says to me "Oh, I thought you were my wife, I'm sorry, " and walked out seeking his missing white-haired mate. This was just today, when I was forty-something. I wondered if I was the lost one. 

*****

I went to the racetrack to bet on the ponies this season, but really to see a concert for free-when you stay and play, you do not have to pay for the show. You have already paid-with losses.

While standing in the security line, among all ilks and ages, an older woman in her 60’s, with purple-white spiked hair smiled at me while simultaneously giving me elevator eyes. “Such a cute outfit,” she said pointing up and down my body. “I get to see what all the people wear, it is one of the reasons I love this job, it helps me stay in touch.” I smiled and thanked her. She added since the line had not progressed, “Just a bit ago though-I saw the saddest thing. A young man wore a jacket that had a cross, crossed out! So so sad! And underneath that it read ‘Bad Religion’ and I wondered who in his life had taught him about God, who steered him the wrong way?” I smiled wider, “That is a band.” Her mouth fell open, her face flushed, we laughed lightly together and all moved on. I now had second thoughts about my outfit.

*****

I had both of my children when I was young, younger than most women. I wanted to have the energy and relatability of a young mother. Now that they are adults and all the adults my own age have young school-age children I am even more pleased with my naive choice, I am unable to relate to my peers but have found my relationship with my own adult children in full bloom. They are wildflowers. I don’t even water them. They grow how they want, I observe their new beauty and admire their lack of fear when sticking their petals out tall. Strangers always mistake my daughter for being much younger than she is, my son is afraid of strangers. Other people are stranger than my children. We are all old enough to know there will not be enough time. We are all adults trying to save our childhood.

Painting by Jacopo da Empoli, 2nd half of the 16th century in [Public domain].

Making a man from a boy

When your son tells you something--listen.
When your son tells you-
about his first girlfriend at the age of eighteen,
he was listening when you told him about high school girls
and saw for himself.
When your son tells you he is in pain, physically-his stomach hurts and his face is contorted in pain-
exactly like yours--listen,
he may need surgery.
When the nurse tells you your newborn baby boy has a hole in his heart, maybe she misheard.
And when his doctors say they can hear a flutter
through (out) life--listen. Every time.
When your son asks you for advice
about relationships, instead of  your ex-husband, you have raised a fine young man.
When your son tells you something by not telling you anything-listen real hard.
When your son tells you something you already know--listen (softly).
You cannot plan
for any of this,
especially the part where
He listens.

“It is easier to build strong children than repair broken men.” 

-Frederick Douglass