What Do You See?

Photo by stock.xchange.com/trolf

"As we grow old, the beauty steals inward."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson, American poet & essayist

I love the contrast in this photo: age and youth, both enthralled with the other. And who is to say what holds the greater beauty? The wide-eyed innocence of new life or the experiences and wisdom hidden behind wrinkles and gray hair?

Did Emerson get it right? When you see yourself getting older, do you think, "How beautiful?"

How old are you?

Photo by stock.xchnge.com/setada

"Everyone is the age of their heart." ~Guatemalan Proverb

On my list of all-time favorite quotes, this one ranks in the top 10. Hidden in those seven words is a nugget of truth: Years don't define how old we are--our heart does. Our passion. What we love. What we live for.

So, how old are you?

Beauty--and age--is in the eye of the beholder

The other day, Christa said to me, "Mom, I thought you were younger than you are."

I didn't say anything because, well, what do you say when your child says something like that?

She continued, "Until you told me how old you are, I thought you were in your 30s."

Sigh.

Nope.

Christa missed my 30s.

I have the distinct pleasure of knowing I am one of the oldest parents in Christa's third grade class. I don't wear a t-shirt announcing this fact. But I did have another mom make sure I didn't overlook this reality.

A few years ago, I was attending a school function. A mom I know came up to me and said, "My brother was looking around and he told me that some of the parents looked a lot older than most of the parents here."

Now, she's talking to me and looking right at me. And I know she knows Christa is my caboose kiddo.

I wanted to say something snarky like, "Oh really? Who was your brother staring at during the kids' musical peformance?" But I just smiled and then went out and stocked up on the latest anti-wrinkle creams.

Thinking Out Loud Here: Most days, I don't think about how old I am. And my sweet daughter thinks I'm in my 30s. Works for me. Christa looks at me through eyes of love--and that seems to have a wonderful anti-aging effect.

The "Joy" of a Much-Younger Sister

A conversation between my daughter Katie Beth, who is 21, and my caboose kiddo Christa, who is 7:

Christa: Katie Beth, when I grow up, I am going to have a car and a motorcycle!

Katie Beth: Well, I'll borrow your motorcycle all the time.

Christa: No you won't! You'll be too old!

Katie Beth: How old do you think old is, Christa?

Christa: Like 90.

Katie Beth: When you start driving, I'll only be 30.

Christa: Well, yeah--you'll still be old!

Of course, Christa did not share her plans about having a motorcycle with me. And if 30 is old, I don't know what she thinks I am--besides tired.

And Christa doesn't know that Rob and I plan on her brother and sisters teaching her to drive. So she'd better treat them nicely and not razz them about their age.