Some People Should Not Age

Cal was the handsomest guy on campus. He had a girlfriend, but that did not stop a retinue of admiring young men, myself included, who did not acknowledge they were gay from forming around him. His good looks did not go to his head. He was not vain or conceited. He had a sunny, friendly personality that made everyone around him feel in good cheer. There was not a mean or inconsiderate bone in his body. I have a recurring nightmare of running into him now, some 50 years later and not recognising him or bursting into tears at his lost beauty. Some people should be exempted from getting old. It is like a vandal slashing a Botticelli.

~ Roedy (1948-02-04 age:70)