I first realized I had become invisible when, wheeling my grocery cart around a stand of wine I was examining, I came carthead to carthead with a young woman, possibly 30 years younger than I. She looked surprised, moved her head, jiggled her cart to move between me and the wine stand. "Move", she said, No "Please", no smile, just the toss of her head idicating where. Brought up to mind, to obey a stronger force, I backed up and moved to the side. Then anger atruck and I whipped my cart around, almost striking her small child trailing behind. "Look out, little girl," I cackled, without a pause in my motion. No sound from the other woman - it was as if I weren't there.
Then it happened again, another store, another move around the corner. This time it was a man, a man of dignity, white haired, wearing a badge. I stepped aside quickly as he drove his cart straight at me. This time there was no nod of the head. Again, it was as if I weren't there!
How long have I been invisible? I dress nicely, my hair has a becoming length abd color, my husband likes my cooking but often when I speak or call out to him, he doesn't answer. I'm not there!
Thomas Mann in "Magic Mountain" wrote: "A man lives not only his personal life as an individual, but life of his epoch and his contemporaries." Perhaps it is not only I who have become invisible but the entire babbling, fault finding, me-first era that I live in will go down in history - Invisible to the last.
©Natalie Norman Baer
Interesting.
ReplyDeleteI found I had become 'less visible, as I got older. Much of the younger generation simply acts as though I'm not there. In stores I actually have to ask to be waited on, or is that just the general attitude of salespersons nowdays?
Making eye contact and smiling seem to have gone out of style.
Here's to seeing you, Natalie!
Hi! I see you are a new follower of my blog ~ Welcome!!! And this post is very interesting to me ~ I, too, feel like I'm becoming invisible ~ not only to strangers, but even to family. It's not a good feeling, is it? In a store, sometimes I think it's because I'm overweight ~ not a cute young thing anymore ~ but we still have money to spend and jokes to tell and laughs to be had!! Thanks for stopping by ~
ReplyDeleteYour story is all to familiar. As a whole very large amount of our population is getting older you would think our country would pay more attention to us. It's not just stores but even places like doctor's offices. Like you I try to keep myself dressed in nice clothing, hair looking good and make up. Maybe we should all walk around dressed up like clowns. Certainly would get someones attention.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog. I'm sure enjoying yours!
Walking around like clowns? Now, I like that. Today is "go to town and buy groceries" and I'll be in the store where the above incidents occurred. I'll keep my eyes open!!
ReplyDelete