Friday, November 12, 2010

Old Friends

“Old Friends…Old friends…..
Sat on the park bench like bookends… A newspaper blows throw the grass…falls on the round toes..of the high shoes..of the Old Friends…”
as sung by Simon and Garfunkle.


I am having lunch today with a friend that, until two weeks ago, when he sat down in the barber chair next to me, I hadn’t seen or heard of since the early seventies. I would not have recognized him at all except for a hauntingly familiar gaze that sat fixed in his expression as he peered into the barbershop mirror. I searched my memory bank to determine where I knew that look from and it suddenly hit me that it was very similar to that of a young man that influenced the most essential part of my early maturity, the need to be honest and to be myself. Still unsure whether the provenance of that stare existed in the man that sat next to me, I forced my memory to chisel away at the years of experience that now formed his facial features and the weight of living that now smothered his once muscular frame. I suddenly realized the indelible physical elements of our existences are carved in our smiles, voices and the way we peer at things. All else is subject to change, except for the possible non-physical elements, like humor, or lack of it, or our practical sensibilities, or lack of it.

The benefit of being around friends, family and lovers for years on end is that we grow accustomed to the ever-changing transformations that age affords us. We don’t see the wrinkles and girth that bespeak our experiences with any crystal clarity, but take them on, as we do our own, with minimal resistance. We share diets, health clubs and moisturizers, all the while fighting the same battle that we gradually lose anyway, but with an adjusting eye to our own and others ‘improvements’. Yes, improvement is the right word because beauty in its full bloom is the most beautiful of all. And who is to say that in the autumn of our years the serene glow of stalwart survival isn’t as gorgeous a beauty to behold as any other. The charm of a blemish free face cannot compare with one etched with character, full of a life’s expressions. Though a toned body, of any age, still holds a greater appeal, than one that speaks of neglect, a bald patch or silver hair on the top of the head has become very appealing to my ripened eyes, as they relent to the irrepressible seasoning of the body, and I ultimately appreciate that success in living is to be still living at all.

As the guy got up to leave, his barber said, “See you next week, Mike”, and I knew it was one in the same man from my early days. Using the technology of today’s youth, I Googled him and found him on Linkedin and emailed him to verify the encounter at the barbershop. I look forward at lunch today, to having a shared reminiscence about our youth and the ensuing years that followed, and the still relatively youthful dreams of tomorrow.

Postscript:
The crooked smile, that had always generated a deep warmth within me - when I reflected on it - greeted me as I walked into our meeting place. The look in his eyes and the sound of his voice - that I had yearned to see and hear since encountering him two weeks earlier - catapulted me, for the briefest of moments, back to the time of a fantasy remembrance of what we shared. But, in as quick a moment as it takes for reality to set in, those indelible characteristics reformed around the lives that had altered the both of us. Our experiences had subsumed the fantasies we may had carried of a lost time and we left one another with an updated reality of the struggle and luck we've had in life. The hazy romantic reminiscences of what might had been - that we all carry about - crystallizes in the actuality of what has BECOME.....old friends bridging a gap in time...

12 comments:

Harry said...

Your writing is as beautiful as your paintings.

Harry

Carson said...

Glenn,
This is the best pre-birthday gift,thank you.I was born on Thanksgiving day,and we shared a lovely dinner together last year in Salvador to celebrate my ascendency to the planet.

Ash said...

Glenn,

Damn. You sure have a way with words.

Micki said...

really beautiful glenn ....your creativity and insight have made a
wonderful marriage ....

Gail said...

Dearests
Love this ... "all else is subject to change Period" No excepts. . .
Warm regards to both of you !!s

Barbara H said...

Glenn, beautifully written and expressed.
Barbara

angelique said...

Glenn
Your passion with words shines so brightly. So eloquently! I see a published book or journal in the making. WOW! Words and visuals from you would be an inspiring work of art.

Ren said...

Glen,
I always enjoy reading Tunstull Dashing but, this one was or, IS so special to me for so many reasons. Being that you are one of me first friends in New York is the first reason.
I guess the second reason is that over the years we have lost so many "old friends" that actually did not get the chance to become "old friends" Dino,Toyce, Jeff Brown, Darryl the list goes on &(in my case,) most recently, my brother Eddie.
Who knew your writing is as beautiful as your paintings and fashion illustrations! I love you, my brother.

Renaldo

patti said...

GLEN,
I RECEIVE YOUR 'TUNSTULL DASHING' AND I SET ASIDE TIME TO READ IT QUIETLY AND WITHOUT DISTURBANCE. YOU PAINT SO BEAUTIFULLY WITH YOUR WORDS (AS OTHERS HAVE SAID, AS YOU DO WITH YOUR BRUSHES!) AND I AM OFTEN TRANSMITTED, SOMETIMES TO PLACES THAT ARE BELOVED AND AT OTHERS TO PLACES I WOULD LOVE TO GO. EITHER WAY, ITS ALWAYS SPECIAL AS I VIEW THE WORLD THROUGH YOUR EYES. THIS WAS NO EXCEPTION. BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED STROKE BY STROKE! THANK YOU.

Ruth said...

Glenn,
You are so beautiful ... to me.
Your spirit is rich, large and exuberant with creativity from on high.

It is evident that the Great Spirit flows though you in every aspect of your life. May you continue to allow God to work through you as you share your many gifts with us all.

Many Blessings
Ruth

Alva said...

as always delicious! I LOVE YOU
alva

MM said...

It was great to see you. Very nicely written. At first it made feel me feel a bit sad -- as though I was in a competition against my younger self that I can never win on the physical front. Upon re-reading it I felt less threatened -- realizing that for you I was a glorified memory frozen in time. Since we met more memories of that time have come back. I will have to share them next time we catch up.

mm