Old Friends

Having an age crisis can be an isolating experience. Those who are older than you can't understand what you're upset about because you're so young. Those who are younger than you can't get beyond the fact that you ARE so old. Others try and empathize by reassuring you how young you look. But really that's not the issue. The issue is that the older you get, the closer you get to death. And this just gets more and more undeniable as the years go by.

Peter, me, and Katherine

One person who has always been able to relate to all of my life musings, age included, is Katherine. Katherine has just had a significant birthday and she and Peter have come for dinner to celebrate it. I regard Katherine and Peter as dear friends. We have known each other for over 20 years. They both keep reminding me how old they are. And they ARE old, I guess, in years. But all I really know is that Katherine and Peter come to all our parties. If they prefer to stay home sitting in their rocking chairs, they never let on. Instead they party, they talk to people, they find out about people's lives. They may not remember anyone's name but that's irrelevant. They dance. Hard. No one can foxtrot and waltz as they can. Mind you, Peter does complain about how it makes his knees sore. And Katherine does have toilet paper sticking out of her ears in a vain attempt to muffle the loud music.

A toast to our long friendship

In honour of Katherine's birthday and incredibly advanced age we have a mini wine tasting with dinner. Peter has brought two bottles of wine. They are both Australian Shiraz from Kilikanoon but from different vineyards. One is significantly more expensive than the other. We taste the Killerman's Run vineyard, the less expensive one, first. It is delicious. It goes very well with our dinner of filet mignon with a mushroom sauce, roasted vegetables, and roasted potatoes. Then we try the more expensive bottle. It's even better. Both are highly recommended but the Killerman's Run at about $20 is an excellent value.

Highly recommended

For those of you who are wondering (if there are any of you left)...no I didn't personally cook the dinner. And I'm comfortable with that. I learned this new-found serenity from Katherine. Come to terms with your strengths and your weaknesses. Figure out what has meaning for you and surround yourself with those experiences rather than waste time on things that do not. Find the humanity in situations. We are all essentially the same. Katherine can sit beside you while you tell her your darkest misery and she can stay there unflinching.

Very wise for someone so old. 

The cake is Red Velvet...and no I didn't make it either!

Here's to many more age crises and the ability to relate to them all!