In Our Parents Stead

Have you ever attended a family event, took a look around and suddenly realized you’ve hit the peak and you are on the way down the other side of that mountain called aging? When did this inevitable decent begin?

I recently attended a cousin’s wedding. Let me clarify that statement; the wedding of my first cousin’s daughter.  At such functions we see family members we haven’t seen, well, since the last family gathering, be it a joyous or sad occasion. After the hugs, kisses and back pats, getting one of my earrings caught in someone’s shawl, you know, the usual greetings, I looked around at my cousins and friends; and it dawned on me and to be honest, not for the first time, but it really banged into my brain with a vengeance that we have replaced our parents.

Was it just a few years ago we were attending parties and having a fabulous time, eating our “back home” food and dancing to hot, hot music? Any kids we had were at home with a sitter or not yet a gleam in anyone’s eye. We were stylish, we were fresh, there wasn’t a grey hair in sight, (well even now not so much), we were about a quarter of the way up that mountain and I’m sure thought this will be the position in which we will remain. We will never be like our parents who had become staid.

Life has a way of setting our priorities. School concerts, dance and music lessons, guides and choir performances replaced many of our own social activities. Of course we still went to the occasional party but they were no longer the frenetic showcases of our youth. Being on parade no longer was as appealing and family get-togethers were a bit sedate.  Backyard barbeques became the go to thing.  Any dancing occurred as the older cousins and their spouses started hitting milestone birthdays and throwing parties to celebrate and as their children started to marry, exactly as our parents did when we were young.

I looked around the wedding reception at the vanguard of older cousins all the way back to the younger ones, sitting and chatting around the tables. On the dance floor were their younger children and grandchildren. We had replaced our parents, so like it or not, we are now standing on the side of the mountain where they once stood. How about we dance just a little bit more cause life rolls on just too quickly.

Will keep you posted.