Who are you?

It’s no well-kept secret - my daily encounters with the bathroom mirror.

This daily morning ritual has been the subject of several of my favorite middle-age man written reflections and discussions with many who give me the courtesy of their ears.

Without a doubt, my favorite one-liner reflection is that every man who looks in the mirror sees a 16-year-old kid.

For those who take me too seriously, know that I’m not alone.  The late great radio and television comedian Jack Benny was known for his character of being age 39 years regardless of his actual age.

The late great Spanish artist Pablo Picasso once said at age 76 years, “Everyone is the age he has decided on, and I have decided to remain 30.”

I may be overstepping my boundaries to include myself among these famous people, but to exclude me doesn’t leave me alone for there are many other middle-age men – and women – who adore and marvel the mirror image reflecting back at them from their Fountain of Youth bathroom mirror.

Do I suffer from narcissism, megalomania, egocentrism or some other personality disorder made up by those characters known as psychologists who take joy in classifying crazy people like me into well-described buckets of personality disorders and mental illness? 

I wonder if I’m a modern-day Narcissus - that Greek mythology character renowned for his beauty - attracted to a pool  where I see my own reflection in water and fall in love with it.

Heck no in my most private thoughts but that’ll never prevent me from having fun fooling all those naïve enough to take me seriously.

At this point in my life, there’s no way I see a 16-year-old kid when looking in the mirror.  Rather, these daily morning encounters have me looking at my mirror image and asking the very tough question, “Who are you?”

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum