Surely one of the saddest lines in all of literature has to be that uttered by Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Where he says "I was adored once." He may be an old fool who, as his name suggests, is far from pretty now. Ague means fever. So we must assume he is of a wan disposition and well past his sell-by date. He grows old. But . . .?
One of the more unpleasant side-effects of ageing is seeing what it does to people. That pretty girl or handsome youth is hardly recognisable any more behind the wrinkles, puffed features, thinning hair and expanding waistline. Age can be cruel. But it happens to us all. Those of us, that is, who survive the slings and arrows.
Seeing what age does to oneself can be a bigger shock. It can come as a nasty surprise to suddenly see one’s self as seen by others. I had that experience recently, away from the soft light and gentle shaving mirror of my bathroom.
It was in a foreign hotel bathroom with floor- to-ceiling mirrors and merciless light when I saw my late father staring back. He in October- coloured weather. Both of us were shocked until I realised it was just me.
Still, I would not like to be young(er) again. It was that old curmudgeon George Bernard Shaw who said "youth is wasted on the young". He should know. He lived until he was 94. But it is possible to agree with him.
The timing of youth is yet another flaw in the divine plan. Yes, it would be great to be a perpetual 28, but as I am now. Who would go through all that again? Who would go back even as the foothills of age quiver on the not so distant horizon? Who would want the excesses, rejections, stupidities, and insecurities?
Youth needs all its energy, beauty and optimism to charm its way safely to a placid middle-age. By which time it will have acquired that invaluable treasure all youth lacks, experience. It has yet to suffer through so much to secure that. It may still be here tomorrow though its dreams may not
Age,from Old French aage ; Modern French âge ; from Latin aetatem (nominative aetas), "period of life, age, lifetime, years"; from aevum "lifetime, eternity, age". inaword@irishtimes.com
