I wasn’t invisible this weekend. A first occurred. At a wedding last night, an attractive young member of the catering team stopped me as I was carrying out floral arrangements at the end of the evening. “We voted you best dressed at this event,” she said with a wide grin. I returned her a flashy smile of my own as I whipped my head around, sure she was talking to someone immediately behind me. “No, really, ” she continued. “We all voted and hands down you were the winner,” assuring me that it was in fact me for whom her message was intended. I was stunned because I am more used to being invisible to people, especially a clearly twenty-something fresh-faced blond woman. I earn this invisible badge sometimes because of my practical, well-worn and stain-infused outfits (I am a professional gardener after all!) But, more disturbingly, I often remain unseen because I have entered that age where I am invisible to anyone under 40. (On more than one occasion, I have stood at a bar counter with a twenty dollar bill hoisted between my fingertips and still remained out of sight of the wait staff and bartender.)

But I had dressed up for this wedding in an outfit purchased 14 years ago but seldom worn because there was a hint of shimmer in the top that makes me a little self conscious. Later that night, another woman stopped me on the street as we passed, and said, ” Hey, you look great.” Again, I wasn’t sure I was her intended target until she said, “Yes, I’m talking to you!” I walked a little taller in my slight heels back to the hotel room.

And the streak continued the next morning. When walking out of the hotel lobby, a bellhop stopped talking to another guest when I walked by, and said, “You’ve got a terrific haircut!” I beamed and squeezed my husband’s arm, while using my other arm to hide the fresh coffee stain I just spilled on my white top. “Don’t go getting a big head,” hubby warned. Too late. I am riding this rare moment wherever it will take me!

~Helen