I was having breakfast yesterday at Pain Quotidien on the Korenmarkt.  As I savoured the last few bites, a young server came up and asked “How was everything?”

I have some stock answers to questions I’m asked, designed to make people laugh.  I keep meeting new people, so I keep using the same old lines.  Such as …

I wish I was younger

The server had a moment of confusion and then she smiled.  Of course she was asking about the food and not my life but I love going in a different direction.

And then my mind paused.  Was my answer really true?  Did I want to return to teenaged acne?  Or revisit my low self-esteem as a vision teacher, the feeling that I was an imposter?

The response came swiftly: No.

The woman and I talked about our common teen agony – a face that resembled a pizza.  Her skin is now fine.  So is mine.  But the memories!  Especially some female friends leaving.  (Sigh)

Then she asked “What was your favourite age?”

The answer blasted through > 76 … Now.

Everything stopped

We were silent

And then she was off to another table

***

Hmm.  So is right now really the best?  The body is less fast and less agile than fifty years ago.  But the heart is wide open.

I smile