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Backstory
I was browsing through old family photos. There was a close-up of a very old woman, taken back in the 40s. I was mesmerized by her. Wrinkled face spoke of her advanced age. Yet the light in her eyes and her warm smile exuded something I sought to define. Then it occurred to me. It was beauty.
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Beautiful Old Faces – #651
I love to be in the company of beautiful people. And one of the most beautiful types of face is an old one. The corrugated face has character. As you age, laughter etches grooves on your face. Imagine how much laughter it took to create that beautiful old face. That face may reflect a heart that has been broken – more than once.
But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. I tease my husband by tracing the laugh lines around his eyes. I claim to be the cause of the three on the left. Happy to take responsibility for those creases of love and laughter.
I love to be in the company of beautiful old people who know how to enjoy themselves, every single day. Who still know how to laugh – at your jokes and their jokes and at themselves.
And if they repeat those jokes often, be kind and listen in. Be amused and react as expected. You’ll make their day.
These older people are precious. They won’t be here forever. But while they are, help them not to waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. Seek out their company. Let them know they are beautiful. Learn from the stories they tell. Enjoy them.
And realize that one day, you will be them.
P.S.
You want to see an old person beam? Put a grandbaby in her arms. Have him nuzzled by a puppy. Have a child present them with a handmade drawing. Listen to old music with them. Listen to their stories. Say a prayer with them. That light that beams from within brings beauty back into a tired old face as it shines with remembrance and joy.
[Show #651]
Love it…try to put ourselves there, but difficult….old, yes!
More inspections on mobile home this week…old at 25 years???? Believe it! Yuck….but we’ll work hard to make it home!
Elsie
And the adventure continues, Elsie.
I love hearing you say “my husband”.
We sure had no idea what a difference it would make, to be married, after nearly ten years together without the nuptials. Bill lights up every time he says “wife.” Especially if he says it to someone else. And I feel utter joy each time I repeat husband or follow a friend’s lead and refer to “hubby.” So pleased to have you share that joy, Jill.
Beautiful story Annette. I so agree with you! I do love hearing you use the word husband! Have a great week. Love you both. Hugs
Being married is absolutely a desired state, Cathie. Bill realized that early one. Took me a while to comprehend. Some times, I’m a slow learner. So glad to be in this state of being. Thanks for encouraging it as you both did.
I always loved the geriatric population most. Mother was forty-four years my senior and Father was forty-eight years older than I. Mother would send me to visit with whoever was sick or lonely in the neighborhood with the 13th loaf of her graham flour bread that she made every Saturday as soon as my little legs could make the trip.
Your mom taught you early on, the gift of compassion and sharing. What a wonderful trait to have, lifelong. We are in such a special age, where we are more able than any generation before us, as we age. Let’s hope we can all continue to put our extra time to good use.
From an email from Mary Lee Sweet – shared with her permission –
I have to say that your daily stories are excellent examples of how to make a point in 90 seconds! While I am guilty of neglecting to give you feedback, I do listen to them, sometimes several at one sitting. I am always left with a smile and an admiration for your well crafted thoughts. Beautiful Old Faces is one of my favorites. Thank you for posting them.
Listen & read along with Annette at https://considerthisradioshow.com/
Mary Lee
Thank you, Mary Lee. As a professional story teller, you understand the nuances of a good story. I respect and appreciate your opinion. I look forward to the CD being produced by the Tale Tellers of St Augustine and am so pleased to be a part of the effort.
Transferred from an email received from Donna Resta –
Loved this about broken hearts. Did you write that? It is so awesome. I just lost my cat who was 19. I am mourning like it was a person. So this hit me particularly well. Thanks for always saying what I need to hear even though you don’t know I need to hear it!
Sometimes communication comes through channels other than the expected, Donna. When a heart needs help, it is sometimes loud and clear, where there is love.
Transferred from an email sent by Abder Al-nawasreh
Hello my dear friend Annette,
This show was awesome as always. This took me back so many years when I was growing up around my grand parents whom they lived between 94 and 112 years of age. I exactly know what you were talking about, they had the most beautiful faces I had ever known till my mom and dad bless their souls became of an old age, 86 and 91.
I remember some of the Mark’s on my parents faces were the affect of 3 wars that we lived thru with them, also many were from laughter and smiles. One of my dad’s marks was in the middle of his forehead, I used to tease him about it because I think I caused it when he used to get mad at me and make that scary look on his face, for me being such a little rascal and a bit of s……head too as I was growing up! Of course we both laughed about it.
My mom had only few wrinkles around the edge of her eyes; she used to laugh very often and made us laugh so hard as well as she was getting older. The wars caused her some wrinkles below the eyes.
Now you got me thinking about the wrinkles I got so far, I am going to go in to very deep thoughts, and back in memory to record as much as I can remember for whatever was the cause.
Again thank you so very much for your hard work on putting together these shows you sure know how to bring out memories from the bottom of my soul!
With love, and God Bless
Abder
Abder – You certainly have the essence of understanding of the beauty of wrinkles and how they got there. I love that you want to record how you earned each one.