THE ARROGANCE OF YOUTH

When I was a mere puppy of 13, I was exposed to just what can happen to the human body as it ages. It was not shown to me by an aging family member but by a total stranger.

When I lived on the lake up North, I had a really cool neighbor. Mary gathered all the kids on the lake together and formed a Junior Auxiliary. With her guidance, we put on fundraisers and fairs to raise money for expensive toys such as tennis, softball and volleyball equipment, and a diving board and water swing for us to play on. It was fun and we learned to work for what we wanted.

One day, she took several of us to town to get some supplies for an up coming fair. While in town she wanted to stop in to visit a family member of hers that was ill so we all tagged along.

The lady was in a wheel chair and quite over weight. She then proceeded to tell Mary of all her ailments. Bless her heart, she really had a rough bed to lie in. She was diabetic, had heart disease and was trapped in the wheel chair by knees that would never know the miracle of replacements, It was years before the first papers on the subject were to even be published. She had reached bone on bone stage.

As she told us about all the miseries she faced each day, one thing really stuck in and horrified my teenage mind. With tears in her eyes, she told Mary that every single day she awoke to and lived with pain. I could not imagine such awfulness. That will never happen to me I vowed that day.

Well it has happened but certainly not to the degree that poor woman had to endure but it really is a rare day that I don't experience some sort pain. It has become a faithful companion.

I have just gotten over my back pain and now I am experiencing my very first tooth ache in almost 73 years. Interesting development. My Dentist can't see me till Monday and so far the pain is annoying but very doable.

This absolutely is not a plea for “Poor Patti” pats on the head. I am really fine. When I think of what so many others in this world are going through, I am feeling very blessed and my minor pains are quite puny in comparison. Many would eagerly trade me even. I am well aware of how blessed I am.

As acne and insecurity are badges of youth, pain apparently is the badge of age for some. I will learn to wear in proudly since it is not optional. If I am nothing, I am an adapter.

I can live easily with that particular badge of aging, it is the other ones that kind of get me. There were other things in my arrogant youth that I vowed would never happen to me.

I can remember being on the beach in Florida  and wondering haughtily how some women had the nerve to put on swimming suits and strut their stuff for all to see.

The huge flabby arms, legs lumpy and blue with varicose veins. Back fat to rival the most expansive cleavages. Surely they must know what they look like I thought disdainfully as I slathered baby oil on my taught, unblemished , golden brown skin. That will never be me I thought and even if it is, I will never display it.

Now that arrogance of youth has really come back to bite me. I pretty much have a version of that very body that once horrified me. True to part of my vow, I would never put it into a bathing suit for display, but now I really admire those ladies who could let it all hang out and enjoy life with warm sand between their toes. I don't have have even a speck of their courage or self esteem.

I once saw on a grave stone the startling saying. “As you are, once was I. As I am , so shall you be “

Wonder if I ought to have that tattooed on my back fat for today’s arrogant youth to ponder.

Have you had youthful vows come back to bite you?

Sigh, it appears Blogger has once again fixed something that wasn't broken. So far so good. We will see.