It is a lot of fun to see where I got my tendency to “fill out” in my later years. But it is also lovely to see the demeanor of my great-grandmother who seems to have an almost smile as she sits for this portrait. I often have a hint of a smile, though I am trying to keep a straight face.
Anyone who has arrived at seventy will notice that time does funny things. Parts of it stretch out endlessly, such as late at night. Other parts zip by as grandchildren, only recently babies, approach adult height. I learned long ago that the Greeks had two words for time: chronos and kairos. Chronos seems to refer to time in our ordinary use of the word. Kairos has a more clear sense of the perfect moment. The following short poem shares my reflections as I turned seventy.
Seventy
And so I join them
out walking mornings,
lingering at checkout stands,
smiling at babies.
Taking time.
Chronos a fabrication.
Kairos the only solid ground.
Saved By Words 
The smile on her face is beautiful and I wish you a happy birthday 😊
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I love that. I’ll be 66 this coming June, not sure how I will handle that, probably fine. I feel strange that I don’t ever think about how old I am. I get frustrated when I can’t do what I used to.
The picture is beautiful, people back then just seemed to always have a sweet, even handed disposition. Always a smile.
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Plus she didn’t feel the need to diet! She loved her squishy self!
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What a lovely, happy face your great-grandmother had, Elizabeth. A beautiful picture.
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She had four daughters. Isn’t that just like your mom?
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Yes, that is like my Mom. My Grandmother had four girls and four boys.
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What a pleasant happy face! 🙂
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Very nice thoughts in this poem, Elizabeth and I can appreciate the difference between the two words. Happy Birthday!
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I think you have to be a little older to get that time difference.
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Nice words, and that looks like a very good-natured person somehow–
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I didn’t get to meet her, but she raised great daughters.
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Congratulations. You are in your prime. 🌼
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Thanks.
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Love you grandma’s photo Elizabeth.
The thought of getting older, the daily grind of living. There are priceless moments that we treasure.
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What a beautiful post and so true. Having just turned 60 my ability to distinguish between chronos and kairos continues to develop slowly but surely. Happy birthday Elizabeth 🙂
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Thank you for having an understanding of the kinds of time.
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What a wonderful picture and words to go with it. I always enjoy your writing, Elizabeth.
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This is a lovely reflection, Elizabeth. Thank you.
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