Distant Memories

Oh, those carefree days of youth where did they go, where did they go? He sits quietly in his recliner watching the TV drone on and on... Handsome in his youth, now his body is gaunt and frail his thinning gray hair is brushed carefully over his mottled scalp. Those blue eyes, once bright and vital, now appear faded and dim under heavy glasses. A wind up clock faintly ticks by the minutes, and his eyelids get heavy. He is tired, always tired...then he dreams. Dreams of distant memories come back to him he feels so alive, living in those glory days of long ago. Now a young man, full of vigor, running along the beach swimming in the ocean, muscled, tan and strong. He then sees himself on his high school campus proudly wearing his letter man jacket for his varsity basketball team, joking around with his friends going on dates, going to dances, going to parties. A sudden noise blasting from the television jolts him awake, bringing him out of his long ago reverie. He glances down at his frail frame, and reality comes screaming down upon him again. Then a few small, salty tears trickle down from my dad's weather worn face... Oh, those carefree days of youth where did they go, where did they go? Written on 6/8/2016