Grey Hair Rules

To con the phrasing the title of Cormac McCarthy's novel, one could say 'It's not the country for the old'. Or, it wasn't because recent years have certainly brought the silent revolution of those who comb grey hairs. Examples are plenty. Veteran Kirk Douglas had returned to the stage at the age of 92, although only for 4 performances. He had done it because he wanted to and because he could.

The reasons for the grey-hair brigade resuming their careers are many and diverse. Quite a number of over 60's are leading their way In recent theatre premieres, in television, including in the big screens. Like the huge success of the latest 'Indiana Jones' of Harrison Ford (at 66), and the equally successful musical 'Mama Mia', with Meryl Streep bordering on 60. Jane Fonda too had returned to Broadway stage at the age of 71, after nearly half a century's absence.

Scenes in London are similar with the return of Judi Dench in 'Madame De Sade' at the age of 74, and the play based on the film 'The Calendar Girls', a British comedy about a group of retired pensioners planning to edit a calendar Playboy style, with the mature ladies posing nude. Sally Field was another accomplished actress that, at 62, won an Emmy in her career with the series 'Five brothers'. Another TV series, in Spain called 'Damages and Prejudices' (translated literally into English), with Glen Close and William Hurt as the central characters with great success too.

The impetus of all these admirable people are more talked about because they are public figures. In other fields there are many doing almost the impossible at their ripe old age, with unstoppable drive and enthusiasm, what's more, with brilliant success in what they set out to do.

As I always maintain, that age is but a number. Not good enough excuse to waylay one's ideals and goals simply because a few grey hairs have appeared. Wear them proudly to mark the worthwhile journey of life you have travelled and still progressing, or tint them whatever colour you wish, like putting on lipstick. Simple!

Tags:prejudice,age

Current Mood: Accomplished

Mr. Happy Nobody

It would seem that the Happy Nobody has made a recording giving us a song for the summer. Who is the Happy Nobody? You have seen him at least a few times on television. For sure! The happy nobody is that enigmatic individual with a beard and a big smile we have all seen every now and then on the TV screen, always immediately behind somebody public, famous, popular or important. Sometimes with a fair sized so called sandwich board hanging from his neck, with some kind of message of morality or clear declaration, without any claim or demand; but he never speaks out.

He is often seen behind or near these well known people, politicians, film or TV stars, singers, rock idols, footballers; hanging around the entrance of their houses, outside hotels and restaurants where these people had just entered or come out, even at airports or hospitals. He limits himself to just being there, silently, watching and following the reporters and photographers, jostling to get close to the celebrities for a few words or a couple of images. He? He wants nothing. The cameras that managed to capture the desired photos or footage with the famous or infamous, forever painting the colourful canvas of our time, would have captured the quietly smiling Happy Nobody too. Always looking contented. Nobody ever says a word to him, and to nobody he says a word either.

Is he simple minded, retarded, or what? I guess none of that. An ectoplasm of the present, a reflected image of the TV viewers themselves. We see him there like we see all the others there, because we look. He always chooses to situate himself near the celebrities because those people command attention. He is like a thermometer of eyes. Of our attentive look drawn by those people. He is a vampire fed on our eyes, then afterwards return to his coffin until the next outing.

He is there so that we can look at him looking at us. He is the representative sent by us to manifest our own presence there in public events, and in the focus of the camera, flanked by famous football stars, film stars, and rock stars. We are there if we could or would. But there is always someone who is willing to. Aren't we all a bit of a Happy Nobody?

Tags:Happynobody

Current Mood: Awake