Excellently played. I have a piece I've been mulling over about an older man in a hospital ... the same 'when do we become invisible' vibe ... when are we just 'some old person'? There's a whole other angle about why people think old folk no longer have taste, or needs, or they only want 'old stuff'. Mm, thought provoking fiction, Bill.
I'm looking forward to reading your story about the older man in the hospital. Even when not seen, invisible people are here, part of society, loving and loved by others.
There’s a fantastic episode of Six Feet Under which deals with exactly that question. It’s about an old man nobody in his family cares about anymore, except to protect him from peaches, which he’s allergic to. He feels like he’a got nothing to enjoy anymore. So one day, he drink down a whole can of apricots and dies with a smile on his face. Brilliant story, told in a very short intro. It’s S05E05.
So very true. I experience it too, at family gatherings - so much accelerated conversation I can't get one word in and no one ever thinks I have anything to say! No one ever says, Aunt Sharron, what do you thinK? It is disheartening and demoralizing. My brain still functions brilliantly, damn it!
That’s the thing, isn’t it? We have hard won experience and some life lived to sprinkle into the lives of others. I have a notion about hospitals dehumanising folk - I am going to prepare an A4 typed piece about who I am to attach to the clipboard my notes are on (not yet but I’m ready!).
On the day that I opened my bank account in Japan I won an enormous teddy bear in a UFO catcher (the claw game), which I carried around Tokyo. Everyone smiled at me, and I could tell that the bank teller was doing their best not to break out in laughter.
Maybe everyone should carry a stuffed animal. That might end the invisibility problem.
"I don't make the rules of the universe. I'm just reporting them." "“You’re irrelevant to the younger generation.” This is no joke, Bill. Invisibility is absolutely a fact. I feel it every day. But.... golly.... you have given me a new direction here... I'll give it a try and let you know how I do.
Thanks, Andrei. As you wander through my stories, may I mention my favorite, Sakura Petals. There's also a song for Sakura Petals, which you can listen to on the story's page: https://billadler.substack.com/p/sakura-petals
Excellently played. I have a piece I've been mulling over about an older man in a hospital ... the same 'when do we become invisible' vibe ... when are we just 'some old person'? There's a whole other angle about why people think old folk no longer have taste, or needs, or they only want 'old stuff'. Mm, thought provoking fiction, Bill.
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the story.
I'm looking forward to reading your story about the older man in the hospital. Even when not seen, invisible people are here, part of society, loving and loved by others.
I’ll play with the idea for a little longer.
There’s a fantastic episode of Six Feet Under which deals with exactly that question. It’s about an old man nobody in his family cares about anymore, except to protect him from peaches, which he’s allergic to. He feels like he’a got nothing to enjoy anymore. So one day, he drink down a whole can of apricots and dies with a smile on his face. Brilliant story, told in a very short intro. It’s S05E05.
That's cool. I'll check out that episode. Thanks.
So very true. I experience it too, at family gatherings - so much accelerated conversation I can't get one word in and no one ever thinks I have anything to say! No one ever says, Aunt Sharron, what do you thinK? It is disheartening and demoralizing. My brain still functions brilliantly, damn it!
Now and then, I see somebody at social gatherings approaching one of the "invisibles" and striking up a conversation. That warms my heart.
That’s the thing, isn’t it? We have hard won experience and some life lived to sprinkle into the lives of others. I have a notion about hospitals dehumanising folk - I am going to prepare an A4 typed piece about who I am to attach to the clipboard my notes are on (not yet but I’m ready!).
On the day that I opened my bank account in Japan I won an enormous teddy bear in a UFO catcher (the claw game), which I carried around Tokyo. Everyone smiled at me, and I could tell that the bank teller was doing their best not to break out in laughter.
Maybe everyone should carry a stuffed animal. That might end the invisibility problem.
Haha, it’s not what you’re known for, it’s the fact you’re known.
I like being visible. :)
I'd be hiding behind the teddy!
Great idea. " I am a human being with a name and a life. I am not a case number or a disease."
Totally THAT!!
While I know it's fiction, as one who is an older GenXer, it's kinda spot on.
Maybe I should start pick pocketing people on the bus. :P
Becoming invisible makes it easier to earn a living. ;)
The trick is to make sure you are invisible before you try.
"I don't make the rules of the universe. I'm just reporting them." "“You’re irrelevant to the younger generation.” This is no joke, Bill. Invisibility is absolutely a fact. I feel it every day. But.... golly.... you have given me a new direction here... I'll give it a try and let you know how I do.
Let me know. :)
When life gives you lemons, eh?
Exactly that.
Ha! I will be reminded of this each time I am at a Starbucks! "Am I invisible?"
Being invisible at Starbucks is a great way to sample all those strange concoctions people have ordered. ;-)
Ha! Does this flow from a personal Starbucks experience? Seems like there are other parts/people in our society that we "invisible" too.
Very definitely there are a lot of invisible people around from many parts of society.
I'm usually in and out of Starbucks too quickly to either be noticed or not. A fast espresso and I'm gone.
Excellent - really enjoyed this!
Thank you, Chris. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed Invisible People.
Awesome! Really clever exploration of middle age angst. It was a ton of fun to read.
Thanks, Andrei. As you wander through my stories, may I mention my favorite, Sakura Petals. There's also a song for Sakura Petals, which you can listen to on the story's page: https://billadler.substack.com/p/sakura-petals
Oh, yeah! Thanks for the rec!
this touched on something that feels quite true, unfortunately, and can probably relate to more than age...Loving the twist at the end Bill!
Thank you, Rosana. Sadly, there there's invisibility around than we see.
I know about the invisibility-whenever my mother was with me - people always addressed me and not her, it used to drive her mad!!
Invisibility is a weird human phenomena. People see some people but not others, and in some places those who were once visible become invisible.
Just classic. Well done and thank you for sharing, Bill.
Thank you, Ben. I'm very happy you enjoyed Invisible People.
All thieves in prison should've just waited a while. Good story, Bill!
Thanks, Thomas! (True about the thieves.)
I'm glad you liked Invisible People.
I know how she feels.
Invisibility is inevitable.
They both wrote about different kinds of invisibility: literal vs. metaphorical.
Wow- I got THIS to look forward to as I get older...
H.G. Wells meets Ralph Ellison meets generational prejudice.
Invisibility has its perks.
I like that: H.G. Wells meets Ralph Ellison.