A Sober Comment on Aging

Getting Old

One of my favorite authors, James Lee Burke, in his recent Dave Robiecheaux tale entitled “The Glass Rainbow” wrote a beautiful piece of dialogue regarding the pain of men endure as they grow old. Now many women will just roll their eyes at this revelation, but the truth is that if they listen they will understand the sudden sadness some men feel when they face up to the limitations age puts on us with little or no time for preparation.

Dave, in his role in law enforcement in New Iberia, Louisiana, is interviewing an old patriarch, a left over remnant of the anti-bellum southern aristocracy. Dave has no respect for this man and his kind, who, Dave believes, has acquired his power and fortune by trampling on those less fortunate. He also believes this man might have something to do with the cruel and horrible murders of two young women, probably not by his own hand, but possibly with his permission or at the very least knowledge.

They are on the patio of this gentlemanʼs mansion next to the Bayou Teche. The mansion is rapidly becoming a shadow of itʼs original glory and grandeur, and as such serves as a metaphor for the pain and inevitability of growing old. The old man asks his nurse to sneak him a cigarette before his son comes back. Probably embarrassed by the skullduggery required to enjoy such a simple pleasure, he addresses Dave.

“Donʼt get old, Mr Robiecheaux. Age is an Insatiable thief. It steals the pleasure of your youth, then locks you inside your own body with your desires still glowing. Worse, it makes you dependent on people, who are a half a century younger than you. Donʼt let anyone tell you that it brings peace, either, because thatʼs the biggest lie of all.”

Observation by Jeff Jordan 03/11/2011

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