Look Back at You

Look back to that first really big crush you had in high school. Not the “I like them” type, but the one that made you sit and daydream about “if only”. The one you were slow to tell any of your friends about because you weren’t ready to admit it to anyone, maybe not even yourself. You know, the one you may have actually imagined being married to. Do you have them pictured in your mind? Now, look at who you married, (some of us may have to bring to mind two or more) and answer a question. How close are they? Are the one (ones) who came later anything like that first one that really go your mind racing?

Now look back at the way you dressed? Do you still dress the same? I’m not necessarily talking fashions because that constantly changes; although there maybe someone out there still walking around in bellbottom pants. What I’m talking about is the way you dressed more than what you wore. Did you use to dress up a lot? Sometimes? Do you still do that? Were you a jeans person back then and not so much now, or is it more vice versa?

Okay, this time look back at your hair. Do you style it the same way now as you did back then? I’m sure it looks at least a little different, greyer or maybe a little less of it, but is it still close to what it was at graduation.

How about your car? I know there’s been a lot of changes in cars, but is the type or style at least the same? Or have you branched off to a truck, jeep, or SUV? Maybe you zip around in a sporty little something or other. I could be wrong, but I’m assuming it’s at least not a standard transmission anymore, even if it was back then. There is something laborious about shifting gears these days.

Has the food change? I’m willing to bet it has. There are tons more eating places now than there was back then. Even if you still eat at home a lot, I think it’s a good bet your menu choices have expanded a good deal too. I am also willing to bet that if it’s just you and your spouse left at home, you both either fix dinner together and/or you don’t sit at the table all that much. You probably balance your dinner on your knee while you’re watching TV or maybe out on the porch or deck or patio.

I guess the point to all this is how much have you changed? Not all changes are obvious when you look at someone. Have you always considered yourself a democrat or a republican, or have you waffled because this or that person was running for this or that office? Do you go to church more or less now than you did back then? Are you happy? I will also bet that dying crosses your mind more now than it did back when it seemed like we were all invincible.

I guess in a way I’m answer all the questions myself, but I’m also betting that you may be very different in some ways, but overall, you’re still the same person I knew way back when.