On Reconciliation (Briefly)

Growing older means reconciling oneself to many things: grey (or no) hair; declining athletic prowess; aches and pains that occur for no apparent reason; a daily pill box; and the inevitable. But growing older also provides opportunities for more positive forms of reconciliation, for instance, to one's own foibles and past mistakes. The most rewarding reconciliation might be with old friends who have been out of touch for a long time, not so much to rehearse (let alone relive) the past but to communicate about present conditions and concerns with people who share some of one's history and, therefore, a common frame of reference. Unfortunately, some old friends might not be open to reconciliation, whether for good reason or no reason at all. In that case, one must reconcile oneself to not reconciling, which can be a hard pill to swallow.