As a vintage human being, one of the joys of my life has become an increasing enjoyment of silliness. The writer in me stands back and observes, going, You’re doing what? and the person who is also me, says, Learn from your dog. Kira is possibly the silliest dog I have ever met. I say this with enormous affection. Especially in our recent weather on Pender Island involving an arctic outflow of -10 with a windchill that took it down to -20, she gets energized, and on the way down the driveway for a walk, she’ll play with her leash. By this, I mean that I’ll swing the end of the leash and she’ll leap for it. Kira grabs the end in her mouth and shakes it like crazy. Instead of having a leash clipped to her collar, she prances beside me with it in her mouth. Her antics keep me laughing all the way to the gate. I play along, of course, tugging the leash and sometimes getting it away from her, then swinging it again. At the gate, I leash her until we reach whatever trail we’re walking to that day.
Thanks Diana! I really spent some time meditating and asking the universe for that perfect way to describe those of us at this stage of life! The phrase came with a sense of uplift; after all, our kids like and pursue vintage items. We're just vintage humans! Valuable.
Thank you, Joy! It did seem a little out there. One of those titles that arrives in the middle of the night and I'm never sure if I'll remember of not.
Zoë, I always enjoy your posts and appreciate the places they take me. Each one opens up thoughts and feelings I might not have had otherwise, or, at least, wouldn't have worded. Thank you immensely for this There's not a lot of silliness in my life (I scrolled through the comments and will note that I, too, am an older sibling) but over the past few years I've gotten over some inhibitions. I'm now comfortable attending a concert alone, in the packed "pit" in front of the stage, surrounded by people less than half my age. Or dancing while washing the dishes and listening to music on my AirPods, regardless of how ridiculous my husband and my kids think I look. I'm re-learning how not to be ashamed of enjoying an experience that some people in my life might not "get." Two decades ago, a student told me they hated the word "appropriate" (as an adjective, not a verb). Increasingly, I understand what they meant!
Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Stephanie! I so appreciate knowing the posts are meaningful--sometimes I wonder at the places they're taking me!
I'm impressed that you can be comfortable dancing in front of your spouse and kids! For me, this learning to fill my own skin, so to speak, has been an experience learned in solitude. And going to concerts by yourself, well, good for you. I keep telling myself that it will happen, and mysteriously, I just don't go out that night.
Re the meaning of the word appropriate, that's interesting. It is sort of a fence, isn't it? Keeping us in the bounds that someone else deems correct. A deer park where we stay within socially approved norms.
Vintage human is the perfect way to describe those of us at this later stage of life and farting and belching freely is the perfect way to celebrate this!
Thanks for this, Zoe! I say yay to farting and belching and eating olives and cheese for dinner. I say yay to the silliness of dogs and how they engage us. They must think we are such sticks in the mud, speaking of sticks. Silliness feeds an important part of us 💚
Leslie, your comment made me laugh. Yeah, I do get the feeling now and then about maybe being a stick in the mud, certainly compared to my dog. Thank you.
Thank you Zoe .. your writing always touches me and today it is deeper than I expected. I had finished reading and realized at the end that the notion of silliness rather irritated me. I was surprised at the strength of the sensation. Then .. oh yes. You refer to a four year old. That is the year I became an adult. My mother came home with a new baby and my father left. What else was a girl to do. I never made room for silliness ... too grown up busy was I.
I will watch out for it now .. now that I am vintage and expanding in many directions there is time
Jule, the more I thought about your comment and being a four-year-old, the more it resonated. When I was four, I had two younger sibs and I went from having all my mother's time and attention to being her helper, looking after the babies. We're supposed to be mature somehow. I was a very solemn-looking little kid and I bet you were too.
Then later, we get to be responsible at work. So now's our time for silliness!
Oh Jule, that's a really interesting insight. It's touching that you were able to stay with the feeling long enough for it to come clear to you. What a weight for a four-year-old! I love the idea of you having time now and expanding in many directions. Vintage has advantages!
Best title ever!
Thanks Diana! I really spent some time meditating and asking the universe for that perfect way to describe those of us at this stage of life! The phrase came with a sense of uplift; after all, our kids like and pursue vintage items. We're just vintage humans! Valuable.
Thank you, Joy! It did seem a little out there. One of those titles that arrives in the middle of the night and I'm never sure if I'll remember of not.
Zoë, I always enjoy your posts and appreciate the places they take me. Each one opens up thoughts and feelings I might not have had otherwise, or, at least, wouldn't have worded. Thank you immensely for this There's not a lot of silliness in my life (I scrolled through the comments and will note that I, too, am an older sibling) but over the past few years I've gotten over some inhibitions. I'm now comfortable attending a concert alone, in the packed "pit" in front of the stage, surrounded by people less than half my age. Or dancing while washing the dishes and listening to music on my AirPods, regardless of how ridiculous my husband and my kids think I look. I'm re-learning how not to be ashamed of enjoying an experience that some people in my life might not "get." Two decades ago, a student told me they hated the word "appropriate" (as an adjective, not a verb). Increasingly, I understand what they meant!
Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Stephanie! I so appreciate knowing the posts are meaningful--sometimes I wonder at the places they're taking me!
I'm impressed that you can be comfortable dancing in front of your spouse and kids! For me, this learning to fill my own skin, so to speak, has been an experience learned in solitude. And going to concerts by yourself, well, good for you. I keep telling myself that it will happen, and mysteriously, I just don't go out that night.
Re the meaning of the word appropriate, that's interesting. It is sort of a fence, isn't it? Keeping us in the bounds that someone else deems correct. A deer park where we stay within socially approved norms.
Vintage human is the perfect way to describe those of us at this later stage of life and farting and belching freely is the perfect way to celebrate this!
Thanks for this, Zoe! I say yay to farting and belching and eating olives and cheese for dinner. I say yay to the silliness of dogs and how they engage us. They must think we are such sticks in the mud, speaking of sticks. Silliness feeds an important part of us 💚
Leslie, your comment made me laugh. Yeah, I do get the feeling now and then about maybe being a stick in the mud, certainly compared to my dog. Thank you.
Thank you Zoe .. your writing always touches me and today it is deeper than I expected. I had finished reading and realized at the end that the notion of silliness rather irritated me. I was surprised at the strength of the sensation. Then .. oh yes. You refer to a four year old. That is the year I became an adult. My mother came home with a new baby and my father left. What else was a girl to do. I never made room for silliness ... too grown up busy was I.
I will watch out for it now .. now that I am vintage and expanding in many directions there is time
Jule, the more I thought about your comment and being a four-year-old, the more it resonated. When I was four, I had two younger sibs and I went from having all my mother's time and attention to being her helper, looking after the babies. We're supposed to be mature somehow. I was a very solemn-looking little kid and I bet you were too.
Then later, we get to be responsible at work. So now's our time for silliness!
Oh Jule, that's a really interesting insight. It's touching that you were able to stay with the feeling long enough for it to come clear to you. What a weight for a four-year-old! I love the idea of you having time now and expanding in many directions. Vintage has advantages!