Books & Youth
First, a little shout out to our friends’ son, Brian Benson, on the publication of his (first) book. Got it queued up on the Kindle. Read the first few pages and thought, I’d no idea when I cycled with this boy (now a man) — what, twelve years ago now? — that he’d become a writer of literary prose. Back then his father had arranged this bike tour of northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s upper peninsula, in early September if I recall, entreating all of us to come to the northern latitudes for a ride, to get out of the oppressive heat of summer that had been afflicting the rest of the country that year. We all agreed, great idea, let’s do it!
I recall finishing a 100+ mile day, I think it was in Houghton, MI, in 102 degree heat. Highest temperature ever recorded that day in Houghton, according to the locals (aka “Yoopers”). Oh boy! It was the day Brian had chosen to ride with the group on what I thought was an impossibly old and clunky bike to be attempting such a feat, his first if I recall right. Damned if he didn’t do it though. All 100+ miles. So I wasn’t the least bit surprised to hear he cycled across the country to Portland. I just hope it wasn’t on that same bike!
This pic isn’t bad:
Happy Wife prefers the way she looks this one:
I don’t care for my appearance in either one. This is partly explained by exaggerated modesty, expected when one is asked to appraise his own visage (save Narcissus), and partly as a concession to the glacially slow disappearance of what we once were. The passage of time is inexorable. We know this, but we fight its erasures nevertheless. Fill the pocks, color the shadows, cream the creases, tighten the sags, whatever we need do to defend the fading facade of youth.
Some may say drinking Margaritas only aids the enemy, hastens the day. But tequila can feel like an ally, too, an inhibitor of concern, an agonist of blissful unawareness that the drawbridge is down, the mote has been bridged, the walls breached. If nothing else it makes acquiescence seem less like surrender.
Which is to say we are all doing the best we can.