NEW YORK BOSTON |#Popular: Irish Celebrity Gossip Irish in US Politics Irish Festivals Irish Roots Irish Entertainment Offbeat Irish

Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > On reaching the ripe young age of 59 -- Who is that guy in the mirror I wonder

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

On reaching the ripe young age of 59 -- Who is that guy in the mirror I wonder

Posted on Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 09:28 AM

Larger Text

E-mail

9 Comments

RSS

Archives

I woke up yesterday morning to discover an impostor.

I gazed in the mirror on my 59th birthday and realized I had been hijacked.

The grey haired, balding guy in the mirror with too many wrinkles and a paunch had clearly been foisted on me overnight.

The sleek, handsome as hell, gazelle like guy I went to sleep as had disappeared.

This has happened before but seems to get worse every birthday.

It is high time I reported it to the time police.

“Shurely Shum Mistake," I’ll tell them in my best Irish drunk imitation.

They, no doubt, will assure me they will investigate this impostor and have him arrested at their earliest convenience.

I’ll tell them I’ve noticed him skulking around since I was about 40 and the first grey hairs appeared.

“Yes sir, you can be sure, we know who he is we’ve seen him in action before.”

“Thank you officer," I’ll say.

I hope they put him away for a long time.

The thief of time is well known around these parts.

But I never thought he’d attempt to infiltrate my home.

There must have been an open door or window in my soul that he climbed in.

He’s clever, I never see him until I look in the mirror.

Clearly, he disappears at night and my true self returns.

Not next year though I’ll be ready for him.

Maybe in a butterfly net I’ll catch him.

Now there’s a thought.

Lock him up for everyone to see officer.

E-mail

9 comments

Page 1 of 1 pages

sirpeter | May 22, 2012, 06:33 AM EDT

"Tis many a person in the graveyard who would have loved to reach 59".Or so I have been told.Yeah I know.That saying didn't give me any consolation either.

Report abuse

jamieLM | May 21, 2012, 08:54 AM EDT

Probably when you look in the mirror at 69 and then at 79, you'll wish you were seeing that 59 yr.old guy. Looking at 59 yr. old you, you'll be thinking, "he looks pretty good - I wish I looked like him." (:)) Happy Birthday.

Report abuse

abhainn | May 20, 2012, 05:51 PM EDT

Your literary abilities are woefully inadequate to reflect on life with any dignity or elegance. It is just as well that you withdrew from the presidential race. You can't hold a candle to Michael D's articulacy.

Report abuse

Rebelforce | May 19, 2012, 01:10 PM EDT

Actually, getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alternative. As the saying goes, "Never resent growing older, many people are denied the priviledge."

Report abuse

RedBranch | May 19, 2012, 12:25 PM EDT

So many countries to reunite so little time...(Welcome back Jacers)

Report abuse

mamaginnty | May 19, 2012, 12:22 PM EDT

Ah poor Niall, sure your still a young un, I am old enough to be your mudder, don't make me feel older, in my heart I feel a lot younger than you are, and take people for what they are not what they look like, bless you.

Report abuse

jacersagain | May 19, 2012, 11:49 AM EDT

The easy way out of this is to say you're 49 and a bit... and keep "the bit" your own business, or ignore it completely. Belated happy birthday greetings Niall and many more o'dem t'ye.

Report abuse

Rebelforce | May 19, 2012, 09:37 AM EDT

Thanks Niall for cheering me up. I turned 50 last month, but now I realize I'm just a kid compared to you.

Report abuse

KSERRAHN | May 19, 2012, 09:17 AM EDT

That ugly old thief in the night has been to my home also. There much a special branch of the Police we can call. Help I've fallen and I can't get up.

Report abuse

Page 1 of 1 pages