You've seen me hundreds of times. You've seen me at the grocery store You've seen me at church. You've even passed right by me as you walked down the sidewalk and you never even nodded in my direction.
At some point in the past 48 years it seems I've become invisible. It wasn't always this way. In my younger years (I hope you'll forgive my immodesty) both younger men and older men most certainly used to take notice of me. If you put a gun to my head I would have to admit that I used to enjoy the attention. You never would have guessed it at the time because it would have been most unladylike to have let you see that side of me.
Yes, you probably even saw me today, but you paid no heed. However, stop for a second and take another look. Take another look at that nondescript woman behind the bake sale table selling her homemade apple pies to raise money for her son's hockey team. My outfit is certainly nothing you would see on the pages of a fashion magazine. You may not see any gray on my head, but that's more a tribute to my hairdresser than to anything else. The only ornamentation that you see is a simple gold cross that I've worn around my neck since my Confirmation Day over 35 years earlier.
Would you believe that just yesterday afternoon this simple, plain older woman lay naked beneath a hulking, sweating black man less than half her age? That her legs were wrapped tightly around his back as he drove into her over and over? How about that her fingernails had left claw marks across his broad muscular back? I bet you would be shocked to hear this supposedly quiet and demur church mouse whimpering into his ear to "Fuck me.....Oh, God....Fuck me hard".
It had started innocently enough as a tennis lesson. My soon-to-be-lover, Mark, was my instructor as he has been for the past year and a half. He had the patience of Job as I continuously hit ball after ball into the net or sent it flying well over the end line. What he didn't know was that the previous day, while picking my son up from hockey practice, I had caught a glimpse of my ex-husband. Or, to be more exact, my ex-husband and his girlfriend!
I sank down behind the wheel of my minivan and (thank god) he didn't see me. I had seen them, though. Bill's new girlfriend looked to be in her mid to late twenties. She was tall, with long legs and long flowing blonde hair. She seemed to be hanging on his every word and you could hear her laughter clear across the parking lot.
When my son came out to the van he never noticed a thing wrong. You see, I am all but invisible to him too. That night, alone in my room, I cried into my pillow harder than I had since I was a little girl. This man that I loved and had promised to be with for the rest of my life; this man who swore that he loved me; this man to whom I had given six children had moved on from me and clearly preferred someone much younger and prettier than me.
Mark finally put an end to my lesson and suggested that we grab something to drink from the juice bar. I sheepishly agreed and felt ashamed of myself for the way I had been acting all afternoon. Mark was so sweet as he talked to me about how my tennis game was really coming along. He told me several times that he loved my form. He told me that any twenty year old would kill to have legs like mine. I laughed his comments off. After all, I never in a hundred years would believe that someone his age could ever have the slightest interest in me. I may have laughed, but deep down I would have to admit that it sure did feel good to have this young man complimenting me. During the course of our conversation Mark mentioned that he sometimes worked on computers on the side to supplement his income.
I blurted out that I was having troubles with my computer, but that I didn't know who to bring it to that I could trust. Mark quickly said that mine was his last lesson of the day and that he would be happy to come over and take a look at it. I felt really embarrassed and told him no. I felt like such a fool, like I had forced him to offer his help. Mark placed his hand over mine and , while looking straight into my eyes, said "You are so beautiful when you blush".
My heart nearly stopped when I heard his words. In all of my 48 years I had never received such a beautiful compliment. Before I could regain my senses, Mark took my hand and helped me to my feet. He said, "Come on. Let's go take a look at it together." Then he added with a chuckle "It'll only cost you a home cooked meal".
Still in a bit of a stupor, I could only nod my head and tried to smile. Mark held my hand and led me through the country club and out towards my trusty minivan. I was deeply self conscious of the sight we must be. This little mature woman being led by the hand by this tall, very handsome black man twenty-five years her junior!
As we climbed into the van I was determined to put a stop to this. As I turned my head to say something, Mark beat me to the punch by saying "It sure is so nice of you to let me come with you. I couldn't bear the thought of another night of frozen dinners all by myself". What could I do? I only smiled and told him that the pleasure was all mine.
Mark kept up a light conversation during the entire trip to my home. I have to admit that it was a bit difficult to drive because I could swear that I could feel Mark's eyes sneaking glances down at my legs. My suspicions proved to be correct when I caught a glimpse of him as we waited at an intersection. My short white tennis dress did not afford me much modesty and I could never say anything to him about it for fear that I might hurt his feelings.
When we arrived at my house Mark was very enthusiastic in expressing his approval of the way I had furnished it. No matter how hard I had worked to make the house look presentable, Bill would never so much as mummer one complimentary thing. Mark paused to look at some pictures of my children that I had displayed. Again, he enthusiastically gushed over how good looking they were and told me that I must have done a great job in raising them. I was flushed with pride. If there is one thing in this world that I am proud of, it is my children. Mark turned to look at me and said "It's no surprise to me where they get their good looks from".
Time stood still.....His gorgeous brown eyes never left mine......I prayed that he could not hear the pounding of my heart in my chest.....It seemed as if entire civilizations rose and fell....I clearly remember hearing the ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner....somewhere deep down was the memory of seeing my ex yesterday and the hurt that I was afraid would never heal....
Slowly....Gracefully....Mark started to walk towards me. "Sandra, you have no idea how special it makes me feel to have such a beautiful woman as you welcome me into her home". My eyes followed his movements carefully as he came around the sofa, circling around behind me. As I lost sight of him, I could still hear his soft voice telling me, "You have the most beautiful heart of anyone I have ever met. I feel so lucky that you have let me be your friend".