Monday, January 29

young enid


for fun monday, enid has looked through her old photos and found this one of her in the back garden with her father when she was about two. she doesn’t really like looking at it - seeing the past like this just makes her wistful. the enid child there on the lawn has life ahead of her; there are so many possibilities, so many things she might do, people she might marry, careers she might choose. back then, none of her wave functions had collapsed. but now, in 2007, there are just choices made, and not always good ones.

enid’s father is 73 now, and his features have been smudged by age. age does that - it takes people’s faces and rubs out the hard lines of youth leaving watercolour old people with just a wash of grey.

according to sally, enid’s dad is 53 (say). his friend fred, who's the same age, would also be 53 (say). this , to enid, shows a slight weakness in the system. suppose, enid thinks, we were actually as young as we feel - if we measured mind’s actual years by enid (maybe), then enid’s dad would be about 45 (maybe), which is a lot more accurate. enid's dad likes to travel to new countries (even molvania). he thinks you should keep living until you die. he does the times crossword every day, and although he says he’s not as good at it as he used to be, he still impresses enid, who can’t do crosswords at all and thinks she ought to learn before her brain rots.

in this system, fred would be 83 (maybe). fred bangs on about his poor health, the old days, and the number of immigrants mr blair is allowing into the country these days. fred never tries a new thing, or reads a new book. fred has nothing left to want.

but the best thing about maybe years is that they can reduce. take up a new hobby, make new friends, learn to do the crossword - and you can wipe ten years from your age (maybe).

p.s. enid would like a better acronym for maybe - if you have any suggestions, please let her know.

16 comments:

The very nice man said...

Very lovely! Thanks for taking part!! Now we need a picture of you as you look now!

enidd said...

thanks! enid doesn't like looking at recent photos of herself either - in fact, they're worse. although she's 25 (maybe), she looks older.

Beccy said...

You were so cute Enid, I'm sure you still are but as you don't like looking at pictures we'll never know. Your Dad sounds cool.

ChrisB said...

That's a loveley photo Enid and I'm sure your dad is still as handsome today. I agree with Erik it would be nice to see a today picture- how about it!

A Novelist said...

How adorable. I love this picture. Thanks for sharing. :)

Leann said...

cute picture.thanks for sharing.yes show us today picture.God bless

y.Wendy.y said...

Aah Enid has me me all wistful too. Her dad looks just like Wendz dad at that age and time and now he's gone. Very sad about that. He was 67 last year but in maybe years he was 25.

y.Wendy.y said...

Oh bum not me me but made me. Too much wine tonight. Bum.

Mary said...

That's wonderful picture. Thanks for sharing it, Enid!

Anonymous said...

Enid looks angelic in that picture with her father. Very sweet. And I must say, Enid's father has the right attitude about life!!! I wish I could get into that thinking myself.

enidd said...

thanks everyone, enid's chuffed you liked her photo. perhaps one day she'll post one of how she is now.

karmyn, you're right, and enid would like to be more like her dad in that respect too.

wendz, you got to enid there. sometimes you don't realise how old your parents are getting, do you? enid really wants to hurry up and get to san francisco, because she knows her dad is really looking forward to visiting her there.

Anonymous said...

The father's slippers are the most interesting part of this photo. Already old in 1942 (when the photo was taken) they would go on to provide years of faithful service and, despite the fact the enid's mother throws them out every year on all hallows eve.

Due to toe based wear they are only suitable for summer duty these days but still going strong.

enidd said...

enid knows anonymous is the man, getting a little worried about the amount of heat he's taking on this blog at the moment. who else would know about the slipper thing, which sadly is (kind of ) true. the date was of course not 1942, because that would make enid 66, and her father quite a fast developer.

sallywrites said...

Adorable!!

Sally

Peg said...

that is a beautiful photo!

enidd said...

thanks, sally and peg! enid enjoyed this fun monday.