A woman has just turned seventy. A milestone birthday! For the occasion, she buys some fabric and commissions a dressmaker to create a beautiful, refined dress just for her. She even orders some silver earrings onlineexpensive ones, no less.
Once she puts them on and glances in the mirror, she feels years younger.
You really cant get by without a bit of something new, she thinks. A fresh outfit lifts your spirits.
Then she sets to work in the kitchen, preparing a delicious meal for her guests. Her sisters are on their way, and her brother will bring along their elderly mother, whos soon to reach ninety-five.
The table is set, gleaming with the best crockery, and the food looks absolutely tempting. The guests arrive, and her mother is given pride of place at the head of the table. She always sits for a while, but when she tires, shell rest in the next room.
The birthday woman slips into her new dress, puts on her sparkling earrings, and steps out to meet her guests. Gasps fill the room. She beamshow lovely it feels to surprise them, to see their admiration. Such a warm feeling. They raise a first toast, then another, as tradition has it. Suddenly, one of her sisters remarks,
Youve really surprised me. Ordering a new dress at seventy! And those earringsso expensive! What for? Where have you got to dress up for? Youre at home most days. No man in your life, youre not working, you dont go to the theatre. Youve got enough beautiful old dresses to last a lifetime. You really ought to wear them out.
The other sisters all nod in agreement and begin recounting how their wardrobes are bursting, more clothes than they could ever possibly wear.
In that very moment, the new dress suddenly feels suffocating. The earrings, too, seem heavy, tugging at her ears. Something inside her goes hollow and sharp:
Seventy is seventy. Lifes gone by, and here I am, a dolled-up old woman.
She feels the years settle on her shoulders. The smile vanishes, leaving her face stony and withdrawn. She doesnt feel like talking or eatingthe celebration loses its flavour. The guests sense the change and fall quiet.
Then, their mother, silent until now, speaks up:
My own mother lived nearly a hundred. And my father as welllongevity runs in our family. When my mother turned ninety, my father went to the market and bought her a deep-red shawl. When we gathered around the table, he slipped it from its hiding place and draped it over her shoulders. She looked younger and so happy, stroking her new shawl with her old hands. It was as if shed shed twenty yearsas if she werent ninety at all!
The important thing is the spirit. We dont exist for things; things exist for us. They bring us joy, but love and attention from family, thats what truly makes us happy.
She pauses, then quietly adds, Have we forgotten that?
Her words are wise and she turns to the daughter who made the cutting remark:
And as for youmind that sharp tongue of yours. Dont fling words around carelessly.
She rises and goes off to the other room to rest. She is tired.
The others sit in silence. The mood at the table remains gloomy. The sister whod been thoughtless apologises, but it brings little comfort. They make conversation, but it falters; there are jokes, but no laughter. The words still hang in the air like a heavy cloud.
Just then, the womans favourite niece arrives with her husband. They greet everyone merrily and offer their congratulations. The nieces husband goes down on one knee and presents a bouquet of roses, then sings a line from an old English song. The niece opens a small box, revealing a string of freshwater pearls.
Everyone gasps,
Wherever did she find such a thing?
Gently, the niece fastens the necklace around her aunts neck, tugging her over to the mirror and flinging her arms around her with laughter and applause. The room bursts into life againlaughter rings out, and glasses are raised to the birthday woman.
Gone is the poisonous air; it is swept away by love and happiness. Everyone is joyful now, truly and sincerely. Conversation flows easily; people are laughing, joking, enjoying the delicious food, and watching the womanwho, after all, is only seventy.
And as she sits there, the woman thinks,
So what if Im seventy? There is so much still aheadtime to live and celebrate!
Such are her thoughts, radiant and elegant in her new dress with the pearl necklace resting on her collarbonea happy woman, who has just turned seventy today.
