Companionship

I don't suppose there are too many of us that regularly ponder our golden years while we're still young(ish). I've joked with my friends and my sisters about living together when we're old and gray, passing our time cackling about how beautiful/foolish/lucky we were in our youth because unfortunately, there's a strong likelihood that we will have outlived our male companions.

Every once in a while, though, something might remind us that it doesn't last forever. That we shouldn't spend so much time looking forward to things that we forget to look at the here and now. Something that makes us think about the "inevitabilities" of life and hope that we will be surrounded by friends and family as the years ahead of us dwindle.

I have had such a reminder a couple of times recently. Twice in the past month or so, I have seen two women together, once when I was at the market with friends, and a second time when they passed by my house. They are clearly twin sisters and I can barely fathom a guess at their age. Perhaps late 80s or more? When we saw them at the market, they were linked arm in arm, one dragging their rolling shopper behind her. They move very slowly and are quite hunched but there they were at the market, fully decked out with their hairpieces, bright lipstick and hosiery. They were hard to miss making their way through the market.

Then last week I happened to glance out my window to see what was happening on the street and saw them again. Obviously I don't know their story. I wish I could ask them because I can imagine that they've had some interesting life experiences. They likely had/have husbands, children, grandchildren. They likely witnessed world wars and Florentine floods. What struck me about them was their togetherness and companionship. Maybe it's a bit presumptuous but I could almost feel their bond without even knowing who they were. They seem to be in it together and likely will be for the rest of their days. It made me sad to think that at some point, one will be alone.

It is then that the jokes about being with my sisters and friends when I am that age don't seem quite as funny. I hope they are actually predictions that will come true and that I will have my companions by my side, walking arm in arm like these sisters do.

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