Golden Years

The fragrances of soaps and creams have always been a significant part of my enjoyment of shaving, and as I grow older now in my early 70s, I am noticing sadly that my sense of smell is fading gradually.  Just as I now tend to sprinkle more salt and pepper on my foods than previously, I also find most pleasurable my vintage soaps that have retained their scents.  I had wondered about my old soaps seeming to lose their scents more quickly than in the past, until I realized one day that it was I who was changing with time, not the soaps.  It's just another one of those realities of life, and there is little if anything I can do about it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.  I guess I should just be grateful that I have lived long enough to note the change...

So those of you who are younger - most of you here on the forum - I would advise to pay attention each day to the small joys of shaving, such as the wonderful fragrances created by the many artisans of the past and present, because they probably will not always be there for you.

I am 48. The topic is only 2.5 years. And now I understand how much I have lost. Unfortunately, you can’t return the time back.

You are not alone John. Many things decline. As far as shaving goes, steadiness of hand is another joy not to be taken for granted.

yup, the nose, the eyes, the ears, all start to fade but I do not plan to go quietly into that good night 

yup, lots of things "go".

I never spent much time in the Dr's office, now they're thinking of putting my name on a room, or so it seems. They've taken pictures of my in places I never knew pictures could be taken.

Loss of smell and taste are the first to go in CORONOVIRUS!

In my case, at 77, how would I know which is which?

I probably forgot how to get to the hospital already.

Oh, well. ( my psychiatrist buddy tells me that's how I should look at my mistakes! )

Loss of smell and taste are the first to go in CORONOVIRUS! 

In my case, at 77, how would I know which is which? 

I probably forgot how to get to the hospital already.

Oh, well. ( my psychiatrist buddy tells me that's how I should look at my mistakes! )

Back when I was a young apprentice carpenter I made a mistake and cut some material too short (not too much and I used scraps where I could) but I spent some time in the measuring, gathering cutting and assembling the wronsized pieces. I was pissed at myself and an old journeyman told me not to get to upset, "show me a man who's never made a mistake and I'll show you a man who's never done anything." he told me and it made me feel a little better.  "Don't do that again" he said as he left.     Yup, I've found lots of new ways to make mistakes in the 40 years since then but measuring hasn't been one of them.

Reminds me of Japanese culture: have experienced people being humiliated publicly for errant deeds BUT these same people can afterward resume their place in that particular society and even climb to the very pinnacle.

In US society, we boast of giving everybody opportunity and forgiving errors but the reality, as with nearly all other boasts we make, is quite the opposite. We hide the failures of the elite because any error is never forgiven and once fallen in the US, one can very rarely recover let alone thrive.

Didn't Someone once say something about removing the log from your own eye before criticizing the dust mote in someone else's eye?

Quick to criticize and slow to forgive pretty much sums up the public discourse these days

You are not alone John.  Many things decline.  As far as shaving goes, steadiness of hand is another joy not to be taken for granted.

I can relate to this one.