Barbara in Bloom

here's something to consider when you spend time with an older person -or as you become an older person yourself- every one of us is a time traveller. every old person that you know has travelled dozens of years into the future. they can see the past, present, and future. the side effects of time-travel, unfortunately, are achy joints, wrinkled skin, and a little bit of memory loss.

my grandma has been traveling for eighty years. most of my girl friends want to be her when they grow up. she was a fashion plate in every decade. she's written books and magazines. she's seen the world and seen it again and she has friends in every corner. when i ask to draw her, she always has a request: make me look perky. i always have an answer: i'll draw you as you are.

© 2007 rama hughes