My beloved house is about to turn 100!
As might happen with any old lady, she just yesterday presented me with an unforeseen infirmity: a major plumbing issue. It seems nothing is forever, not even cast-iron pipes. This was a major letdown as I had to cancel my Solstice party on Friday. She needs major surgery to uncover and repair the problem.
But here’s the thing: she was built by my grandfather, , like 1925-1929. And I was born in 1950. We’ve always been the same number of years apart. It was always a quarter century between us.
But it USED to seem so much longer!
25 years is nothing to me now.
Well, nothing—and everything. 25 years ago my daughter was a child! And now she’s a lawyer, a public defender— and engaged.
I’d like to think I, myself, stay the same, inside my little husk of flesh. It’s amazing, the tenacity with which I can believe that, even as I can’t help seeing my physical powers wane. It’s laughable, I reckon. People are laughing at me, or no, probably they don’t notice me at all.
I watched my mother kind of—catch up to this house in age, and then, outgrow it.
I don’t want that! I want to be here, managing, entertaining, just inhabiting—forever.
The fact that I feel that way is more of a blessing than most people get, certainly more than I deserve!
I try to be “mindful”, I often sink to my knees in gratitude when I’m on my way back from a walk and the house comes into view. She means as much to me s a person in my life.
But she is a work of art, and I’m only flesh. She will outlive me, like she outlived my grandparents and parents.
Ars longa, vita brevis.
ST UnWoked & UnVaxxed! 
Congratulations to your daughter on her engagement! Such wonderful news 🙂
It is amazing how much we can become attached to a house. I was so blessed that we were able to sell my parents’ (really, my grandparents’) home to a family member. It would have torn me apart to sell it to strangers. Houses can be that way.
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I seem to be both logged in and able to comment once again.
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I hope you are become grandmum in a wee bit more than 9 months following the wedding.
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Translation of “Ars longa, vita brevis.” by ST krap
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I should say ‘interpretation’ not translation because translations are amateur hour.
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ST, SO glad you’re back! WordPress giveth, and WordPress taketh away…and, possibly giveth again, as in your case. Let’s hope it holds up.
I doubt I’ll live to see my daughter’s baby. They aren’t tying the knot till fall 2026 or spring 2027, and who knows how long they’ll wait after that? Or if they’ll ever reproduce? really can’t complain, I was 43 when I conceived her.
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In that case I hope you admire (simple present tense) your future son-in-law.
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My parents were much older-my mother was 41, and my father was 50 when my brother was born. They were always the oldest parents around, and I grew up kind of bracing myself over the possibility of losing them early, but they ended up outliving everybody. My Dad lived to be 95, and he saw his oldest grand daughter turn 16. My Mom lived to be 90, and she saw her grand daughter graduate from high school.
You have many wonderful years ahead of you, Hypatia 🙂
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