The Invisible Age
by
Eileen Krahn
I have survived childhood, know-it-all teenagehood, young adulthood, motherhood, emptynesthood, but the latest "hood' has got me baffled invisiblehood.
Not being recognized as a fellow walker who is entitled to half the sidewalk when meeting other travellers coming towards me makes me feel invisible.
Not receiving any communication from department store employees when they are working directly in my vicinity makes me feel invisible.
When we are dining out the waitress or waiter will often address only my husband and calmly carry on with eating arrangements this makes me feel invisible.
In discussion groups the situation worsens. Unless I raise my voice and adopt a belligerent tone, no recognition I'm obviously invisible.
Examples of invisibility are everywhere on the street, in stores, in traffic and even at home. How many times have I complained or reminded, only to have my words fall upon deaf ears?
An incident that happened just the other day provided another example to add to my growing list. I left the supermarket with bag in hand when out of nowhere a young man running at a formidable clip bumped into me. I hit the window and rebounded before I realized that I was, of course, invisible. Fortunately no one was hurt, not even the window.
This condition does have a few advantages. I can come and go without explanation a sort of peaceful albeit lonesome invisibility.
When invisiblehood comes to an end I will approach the next "hood" with guarded apprehension nobody will know I've moved on after all, I am invisible.