Pajama Man

I stood at the periphery of the marble counter in the grand hotel in New York City while Dan checked us out. As I am fond of doing, I was watching people. I spotted a nice looking middle-aged woman waiting in line to check in and she was chuckling openly and caught my eye. As she laughed, her eyes beaconed me to follow hers to see what so amused her. Funny how you can be given instructions simply by looking into someones eyes. So I took the bait and turned slightly to my right to see a man, probably in his early 70s, stately looking and headed with a mission to the bank of elevators ahead. He had walked in from the outer doors, obviously having been for a stroll. A common occurrence in the Big Apple, but usually one is dressed more appropriately.....not in fuzzy slippers, cotton pajamas and a terry bathrobe! The lady looked at me like she was sharing a private joke and we both laughed and winked at each other.
As Dan completed his transaction and we walked towards the outer door together I scooted over to the "lady of laughter" and exchanged a few remarks about the scene we had witnessed together. It went like this:
"That guy has no inhibitions, does he?!" I said as we both laughed.
To which she replied, "You know, I admire him! It does not bother him one bit what people think about him! I look forward to getting to that stage in life and I am not far off!"
As I shook my head in affirmation, I said, "I am getting close too and it feels good! Bless him!" And Dan and I took off out the door to grab our taxi to the airport. But I continued to think about the Pajama Man all day.
The next evening I had a conversation by phone with my daughter-in-law, Teri. I talked to her about how much easier life gets in this season of life compared to all that she is dealing with in raising five small children, home schooling three, cleaning, mountains of laundry, a husband working from home, meals to fix, diapers to change and ............lions and tigers and bears, Oh, my!! She, too, said she looks forward to that time of comfortable freedom although she recognizes that she is now laying the groundwork that will make that season the best it can be. So true!
There is definitely a freedom from the bondage of "image" that comes with age and life experience. There is a grace and sense of being comfortable with oneself that simply takes years to attain. It is too bad really. If we could just come into that age and comfort in our twenties we would save ourselves so much grief! Yet, does it not take a certain measure of character development through the maze of lifes twists and turns to reach that goal? I suppose it does.
I am so glad I no longer have to work so hard to make sure I make the right impression on the world at large. I am so thankful I am past the stage where I have to have my "face" on every time I walk out the door of my own home.....so I do not embarrass myself by scaring someone I know! If I stumble in public, I can laugh and chalk it up to my age rather than feeling stupid and inadequate. If I am not able to squeeze myself into a size 6 anymore, I can join a fitness regimen that caters largely to fat, old grandmothers like me and laugh with them while toning up my ample rolls and bulges and reminiscing about all the great food and fun I have had putting on all those extra pounds.
I guess I have finally given myself permission to just be me. To enjoy life and to recognize that if I have not yet earned the respect and love of those around me for who I am, then maybe I just need new friends!
Yes, there are definite advantages to growing old. It took me awhile to discover them. But I sure do admire the Pajama Man and that experience made me even more excited about the years to come!
So if one day you see me walking down the streets of Franklin in my nightgown, robe and fuzzy slippers, just wave at me, smile and know I have finally arrived!