Back when we were beautiful

Emmylou Harris sang a song called Back When We Were Beautiful.
"Back When We Were Beautiful"
(with Rodney Crowell)

I guess you had to be there, she said,
You had to be
She handed me a yellowed photograph
And then said, see
This was my greatest love, my one and only love
And this is me
Back when we were beautiful, see

I don't feel very different, she said,
I know it's strange
I guess I've gotten used to these little aches and pains
But I still love to dance, you know we used to dance
The night away
Back when we were beautiful, beautiful, yes

I hate it when they say
I'm aging gracefully
I fight it every day
I guess they never see
I don't like this at all
What's happening to me

But I really love my grandkids, she said,
They're sweet to hold
They would have loved their grandpa
Those awful jokes he told
You know sometimes for a laugh, the two of us would act
Like we were old
Back when we were beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, yes

But I guess you had to be there...

And here's the song.

This song comes to mind after a weekend spent with dear friends we've known for 20 years. They visit once or twice a year. My favorite part of the visit is when James and Bob play piano and sax together while the rest of us sing and dance and act silly.

  

It was a beautiful weekend in many ways.  The weather cooperated so Bob and Judy could show us how they pretend to fly fish.  Um, yeah, they looked good in their gear but we didn't have any trout or bass for dinner.  That's ok.  We know it takes time.

This was our first river weekend of the season.  James and Molly kayaked and I got too much sun, as evidenced by my legs.   Here's James communing with the river.  A moment of Zen.

We used to call this group of friends the running group because we all met through our Salisbury running club when we lived in NC. Most of us don't run anymore.  We're heavier, greyer and we probably tell the same stories year after year but I love our history and our love for each other.  I have to admit I love growing older.

Yes, we used to be more beautiful, but I wouldn't trade this for my youth any day.