In the Blink of an Eye (Reuse of a Well-worn Cliche'

If I can take your picture, I’ll buy you

a hot dog and lemonade, I offered the

old man bench sitting at the festival

on a warm and sunny summer’s day.

His advanced age and long white beard

captured my eye. I had seen him several

times before around this town. And I

had asked others, do you know that man?

Oh, him? Why, that’s Dutch, I was told.

He’s been around here forever. This day

I had my camera with me and I wasn’t

going to pass up the opportunity to

capture such an interesting character

on film. For posterity, you know. And

besides, I have come to realize that

forever in a lifetime is a state which

doesn’t really last that long. And after

a time, I have been proven right. Dutch,

I read in the local news the other day,

passed away last week at the ripe old

age of eighty-eight. I still have that

photograph I took of him some years

earlier when I was a younger man who

then admired the old and gray. And,

now that I am advanced in my own

state of elderly grace, I can better

relate to that which I saw in Dutch

all those years ago. Today, I find my-

self sitting alone on this park bench

life has prepared for me. There is no

festival on this warm and sunny summer’s

day. No hot dog and lemonade stand

nearby I can see. And I am certainly not

catching the eye of a younger generation

passing by. Everyone seems focused on

their electronic devices these days. Young

folks are oblivious to what’s going on

around them. Oh well, in any case, along

with Dutch, I too shall soon be replaced. Then

one day, in the blink of an eye, these young

folks in turn will be seated here in this place,

noticeable or not, reserved for the old and gray.

For now, I need to hobble my weary ass along

and find a hot dog and some ice cold lemonade.

Chris Hanch 9-14-18