Now and Then by CoreyBlack
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Description
Time is a train,
makes the future the past,
leaves you standing in the station,
your face pressed up against the glass.
--U2/Zoo Station
Since I just moved, I'm having to go through a lot of my stuff. And even when you don't have a lot of stuff, you have a lot of stuff, especially if you're American. Among the things that keep falling out of boxes I'm going through in search of other things, are pictures: lots and lots of them. The other day, this snapshot from the 80s fell out at my feet and I believe the exact words out of my mouth were something like: "Holy crap! Did I once look like that?"
The longer I looked at the picture, the more the past kept flying back. I think it's a mid-life crisis thing; the past is flooding back a lot these days, and I remembered I was once a young man, terrified that I was now expected to be an adult. I had absolutely no clue how to do that and was doing my best to pretend I wasn't afraid, and determined to keep my sense of humor. Almost 25 years later, I'm now a middle-aged man without a clue about how to be an adult, and I'm doing my best to pretend I'm not afraid and determined to keep my sense of humor.
Inspiration for this picture struck in the laundry room, as it frequently does, and I went out into the back yard of my new place, with an idea of doing one of those "then and now" things, making a picture of yourself with one hand while holding another picture of yourself with the other is not nearly as easy as it may sound. (Especially with Carpel Tunnel Syndrome and the bright, morning sun glaring in your eyes.) But after snapping away, somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 times, I finally got something I was reasonably happy with.
I was having a bad hair day when I made this picture. You can see that I was also having one in the old photo as well. If I ever write my biography, I'm going to call it: Bad Hair Life, but I digress. By the same, strange coincidence that seems to run my life, the older picture was made on August 17, 1985 and...you guessed it...this one was made on August 17, 2009...go figure!
Thank you all for your nice comments and concern, and I look forward to catching up when carpel tunnel and time both allow me to.
Comments (10)
Chipka
WOW! It's funny how you still look the same, just a bit more weathered. But that's a good thing. I recognized you immediately...it's your cheekbones...your whole body hangs from those cheekbones. Anyway...I like this a lot! Great clarity, considering what you describe as going through in order to make this. I've had those moments too...of doing laundry and being struck by...well...anything OTHER than doing laundry. The description with this image is just as good as the image itself. That's never a bad thing! Great work, as always...and now that I look at this, and you when you were younger, I wonder how I must have looked. (Un)fortunately, I don't have too many pictures of me around. My mom has them...somewhere. Oh well... Great work here. Definitely a keeper.
MrsRatbag
Aside from the hairstyles, I don't see major changes in you; you were great looking then, and you still are. It's nice to see that time has been so kind to you! And what a coincidence that it turned out to be the same day, just different years...
Rainastorm
Now that is to cool! Did you "just happen" to take them on the same day?? Anyways, its GREAT you posted this...gives us all a second to check back on our own past, present, and future...what we looked like, do look like, will look like...no matter were all the same person in the end...just with a few more tales to tell from our travels. Great post...!! Thanks for sharing!! :-)
clbsmiley
What was it about August 17th? I heard of a few more date occurances! Just had a bday too so I can relate,,,, and stuff LOL
beachzz
Not only do I love your foto, I love your narrative just as much. I cleaned out my "spare" room not long ago, and the fotos jumped out and got me. Hours later, I was surrounded by the same "stuff" and hadn't gotten any further. Old fotos do that, take you back, make you think about who you were, where, why, how--all of that. And the same date, now THAT means something!!
auntietk
Okay. This was a great idea, you did a fantastic job, and your writing kicks a$$! I loved every second of my time here, reading and staring and reading.
myrrhluz
Funny looking at old pictures and trying to connect with your former self. Or reading old letters and wondering what in the world you were thinking. And while my body frequently feels its age, I don't think my mind has quite grown up either. Great capture and narrative!
durleybeachbum
I do SO relate to this scenario! A great pic and much food for thought in your wonderful narrative. Print this one off and then hold it up for another self portait in 20 years time!
jocko500
what age do to people
JuliSonne
As the time passes! Former times, now - future?? Young and innocently, cool and wildly - beautifully and richly or beautifully richly?? greeting from Berlin JulySun