“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupery
It's happening more and more often. It just comes over me and there's nothing I can do to prevent it. Sometimes it happens as I am standing in line at the bank or paying for groceries. (It almost always happens at public events or in public spaces.) At first I thought it was my imagination - just a trick of the mind; a mistake, perhaps a misunderstanding - after all, things like this don't happen to ordinary people.
Wait a minute... who's ordinary???
Funny how we see our selves, isn't it? I, myself, am a mass of contradictions! I am funny but very serious - and not to be taken lightly... I have a few very rigid viewpoints, but I nearly always give one the benefit of the doubt. I like socializing and I am interested in people and curious about how others think - yet I spend a great deal of time alone, by choice. I think of myself as a "good" person who looks for the best in others, and yet has little faith in humanity... Normal ? ...I suppose... Sane ? ...certainly... But I've never thought of myself as ordinary. So why should it surprise me that I have developed superpowers...???
Yep. It's true. I know how to become invisible.
Actually - I first became invisible and then I learned how to do it. The first time I was sitting in traffic, waiting to pull onto the main road. Vehicles moved past, sometimes stopping right in front of me, but no one let me merge. No gentleman smiled and waved me in as had always happened in the past. They didn't notice me... they couldn't see me... I had disappeared. The next time it was a shopping trip to Quality Foods. I stood waiting to pay for my groceries as the young cashier and bagger conversed and joked and rang up my order. I smiled at one, and then the other; I held out my check - but neither one could see me. Without acknowledging my presence in any way, they waved me out to the parking lot with my cart full of heavy grocery bags. I must be invisible.
The most recent time I disappeared was at my bank branch, located for my convenience in the grocery store lobby. There were two tellers at their stations but one was on the phone, so a line had formed sort of halfway between the two as customers observed "next person waiting etiquette". When the teller finished her phone conversation, she looked right through me to the store employee behind me and motioned for him to step up for service. Wow. Invisible again!!
With all of this evidence, I have to believe it's true. And just like the "ordinary" people on that show: Heroes, I plan to step up to the challenge. Not only will I continue to develop and hone my ability to disappear by wearing inauspicious clothing, no makeup and a blank expression - but by continuing to masquerade as just another bland, unimportant, unassuming, and innocuous middle aged woman. As I endeavor to save the world, they'll never see the pretty young woman inside me - the one who is well-read and hip and witty... the one who rescues ladybugs and horses and even tries to dodge butterflies. They won't know how funny I am, or how kind I can be, or how much love I hold inside. The deep thinker, the artist, the considerate friend; all these will remain hidden. They won't suspect that I am anything at all like them.
And they won't realize that I am developing another superpower... telepathic X-ray vision. Though they cannot see me, I can look right through them. As I peer into their self-absorbed and indifferent little minds, I plant little seeds... little thoughts... little bits of self'-doubt and self-realization. I will them to see beyond their biases and assumptions. I implore them to take stock of themselves and to question their perception of the world around them. I champion the creation of fresh vision. I wish upon them the gifts of empathy and sympathy - for one day they too, will start to disappear.
“Ninety-nine percent of who you are is invisible and untouchable.” - Richard Buckminster Fuller
And finally; this http://www.stephenrobinsculptor.com
I recently spoke with my first ex-husband, a sculptor, who still lives in Philadelphia. He's a phenomenal artist and a really good person and I will always have a place for him in my heart. We talk often, but I don't know how much or what parts of each conversation he remembers. I tease him about his short term memory loss, and he likes to tease me about how I never mention him in my blogs - so I have decided to oblige him here. He may not remember a lot of what I say (another kind of invisibility?) but what is in print cannot be long forgotten. I hope you'll all visit his website. It's highly worthwhile.
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Blogs by redtigr:
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| Superpowers ...and supersculpture... |
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lacyvsq

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Dec 31 @ 1:44AM
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Great blog! I too have experienced much of that invisibility -- just have not mastered how to summon it on demand. I will have to try that seed planting. It sounds like a very useful and beneficial power to have.
I love the sculpture. Thank you for the link.
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pamdemonium

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Dec 31 @ 2:17AM
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Beautiful sculpture. Wonderful blog! Thank you for sharing your beautiful writing.
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KUPUNA

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Dec 31 @ 2:28AM
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Red, it's beautiful!!!
And I am a pro at invisibility.
You don't really see me do you?
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ragtopcookie

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Dec 31 @ 3:23AM
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it could be my size......or my failure to be ignored....but i lost my inviso power along time ago.....just like the other day in the grocery store when our check out decided to get reaquanted with an old friend after she had checked her out and her things were paid for....our groceries were upon the belt ....she and i looked right at each other.....she even tried to pretend that i wasnt really there by talking to her friend.....i find a simple phrase.........lets go up there........or a hearty.......talk on your own time......works wonders......or even the magic words of....can you get me your boss......some think its rude......but im thinking......i do my job......you should do yours......plus i come up with diffrent phrases all the time.....keeps my daughter laughing........cookie
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jentoblues101

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Dec 31 @ 7:14AM
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Beautiful sculpture! Its roundness appeals to me.
As I read about your invisibility I found my chest getting tight with fear; I know I'm gonna hate it when that happens to me, and I got angry that it was happening to you...
I think big purple hats, pink boas, lots of patchouli, and long flowing red hippie-skirts are in order here!
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UnicornLover1962

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Dec 31 @ 7:48AM
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i used to be invisible...but then my mouth appeared! all of a sudden, i no longer stood by and let someone else pass me in the line, unless I allowed them to. must have been a freaking site to see only a big mouth saying, "wait a minute, i was here first!"
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misschoos

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Dec 31 @ 12:15PM
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Fascinating and beautiful.
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luvshorses644

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Dec 31 @ 12:30PM
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OMG...red.... you too??????
I have long thought that I was unable to be seen or, at the very least, acknowledged for a living breathing human being with thoughts and wit and .. ah, who the hell really cares what I am.. no one will notice .. right????
But, and here is the but... I notice you red.. I appreciate you.. I see the inner person that is witty, hip, and I also see that beauty both within and outside..
You jest gotta keep on keepin on believing that one day that man with the steel blue eyes and the salt and pepper hair and voice like Sam Elliott will bump into you in the grocery line, in the movies, or whereever and you will each take each others breath away.. I believe in you and I believe it will happen...
Beautiful, beautiful thoughts and shared by a beautiful, beautiful woman with a wonderfully warm heart...
Hugggs g/f
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SallyF

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Dec 31 @ 1:00PM
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Nobody told us about THIS aspect of becoming 'seasoned', but I'm aware of it also---good idea to harness the control. Jen's right, this phenomena was probably the seed for the Red Hat community.
Good blog, Red! As Pooh would say, "Oh, bother". Your spin as a 'super power' is less Milne and more 'The Secret' kind of thinking. I like it :-)
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sloriver

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Dec 31 @ 1:57PM
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Sometimes we get an insight into ourselves. These insights are like lightning bolts. I feel as if I've been whipped. I'm guilty of looking through that teller and that checkout girl. My thoughts are far away and they're unimportant to me. How many times have I made others invisible? I don't like to think of it. OK, I'll wake up and try to remember that I'm in a world full of human beings who have feelings. My humble thanks, Patrice.
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beckyiv42000

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Dec 31 @ 2:48PM
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Well if you can have superpowers of invisibility then I must have superpowers of visibility because I CAN see you and the wonderful person you are !!!
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missliss78

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Dec 31 @ 4:37PM
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Oh this occurs in my life quite often. Matter of fact, invisibility is my cloak of honor here on MD. I wear it proudly.
BTW, I am viewing the sculpture portfolio now....beautiful work.
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Sugar_Lee

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Dec 31 @ 4:54PM
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Yes I think I must have this power too! Great blog!
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sciurusniger

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Dec 31 @ 6:32PM
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From one who received that gift very early on, super blog, my friend. Simply super blog.
~*~   ~*~     ~*~
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eastham

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Dec 31 @ 7:42PM
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Excellent blog. Hope you have a highly visible and invisible, as the mood suits you, New Year.
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oceanlover734

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Dec 31 @ 9:21PM
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OMG I don't know how I missed this blog! Heart sis directed me to it after reading me pieces of it. I laughed and felt sad to. How did this happen to me to? Great blog. Happy New Years to you
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jentoblues101

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Jan 1 @ 5:01PM
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This blog scares me so much I had to read it again, and comment again.....
Red Hats, Untie!
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lacyvsq

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Jan 1 @ 5:43PM
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This blog truly is worth a second view! And a second kudo...
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TallBlonde1

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Jan 1 @ 5:52PM
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Being the big clumsy kid who was always picked last I learned I had my super invisiblity powers way back in elementry school. I learned how to use it when I learned how to make myself visible to others only at the times I wanted them to see me, and as a result those times are memorable to them, I'm sure. I like these powers, now you see me, now you don't. The trick is to use them to your advantage.
We all have these moments, and it does seem to occur more often as we get older...now that thought-planting talent, I don't quite have that one down yet... but I'm working on it....
Great blog red ~*~
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Angel603

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Jan 1 @ 7:14PM
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This is one of the best blogs I've read in ages.... it's so true, I'm sure many of us feel the same. A distant friend of mine experienced the same thing for many years... it used to rile her until she started meditating. Meditation and the group discussion after gave her a new understanding of herself and others around her. She recalled a scenario where she was in a supermarket and the tills had broken down. Everyone in the queue was getting annoyed and the cashier was terribly flustered. She remembered before meditation she would have been the same and would probably have dumped her shopping on the floor and walked out complaining in a loud voice but she decided to take some time to breathe and just be.... we don't get many of these moments in our lives. In not too long it was her turn at the checkout and she told the stressed out cashier who hardly had time to look at anyone to take her time. She looked back at her in amazement.... my friend smiled back and said "it's OK, really, just take your time" and she could see the cashier's whole demeanor change. People started chatting in the queue, everything around her changed as she walked out of the door with her shopping only a few minutes later than she would have done. Maybe it's the purpose of the invisible to make ourselves be seen.
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baldy855

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Jan 1 @ 7:58PM
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Excellent blog. Very well put!
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Lovinheart445

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Jan 1 @ 8:42PM
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OMG!!!...This has to be one of the top most blogs I have ever read..WOW!!! just WOW!..I can so indenifly with what you say. I too have felt like the "invisible man" You put it so well. Great writing...Great blog!!
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Martin666

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Jan 1 @ 10:03PM
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:)
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jelltex

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Jan 2 @ 10:20AM
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Also proud to be invisible.
Another good way to be invisible is to be in a wheelchair; pushing my second wife around, another long story, the number of people just push in queues, etc. However, wheelchairs have many shar edges and angles at ankle height, as they soon discovered.
Great blog.
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EternalFlame

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Jan 2 @ 12:36PM
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It seems that you've struck a chord in many with this blog.
I know it hits home for me as well.
Thank you
~*~
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misschoos

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Jan 2 @ 2:28PM
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I love this work really. I just went to take ANOTHER look, but the connection seems to be slow this evening.
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unionman154

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Jan 2 @ 3:46PM
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I am blessed that I have keen eyes and can see those who are invisible. I admire you so much. YOU ROCK
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Tunes4u

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Jan 2 @ 6:21PM
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Over Here! Over Here!!!
Can ya see me now?
Don't tell anyone! We can really have some fun.....hold my beer and watch this!
Beautiful sculpture P....as one who was the pouring floor supervisor for a number of years in more than one bronze foundry, and after pouring thousands of pieces for world class artists from all over the world.....well....I know it when I see it.
One thing though I noticed....none of it had a cowboy on a fast running horse somewhere in it....I was sure all real art had one of those in it. Or an Elk or something....
Oh well....it still was purtty.
Beautiful post! Hey!
HEY!
Over here!
Durn it! There goes another one......
Like Jen said....Red hats! Un Tie!
heh heh.... ~*~ Tunes
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EternalFlame

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Jan 2 @ 7:05PM
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I've been reminded...something very fitting to this blog...
If someone stood up in a crowd And raised his voice up way out loud And waved his arm and shook his leg You'd notice him
If someone in the movie show Yelled "Fire in the second row This whole place is a powder keg!" You'd notice him
And even without clucking like a hen Everyone gets noticed, now and then, Unless, of course, that personage should be Invisible, inconsequential me!
Cellophane Mister Cellophane Shoulda been my name Mister Cellophane 'Cause you can look right through me Walk right by me And never know I'm there...
I tell ya Cellophane Mister Cellophane Shoulda been my name Mister Cellophane 'Cause you can look right through me Walk right by me And never know I'm there...
Suppose you was a little cat Residin' in a person's flat Who fed you fish and scratched your ears? You'd notice him
Suppose you was a woman, wed And sleepin' in a double bed Beside one man, for seven years You'd notice him
A human being's made of more than air With all that bulk, you're bound to see him there Unless that human bein' next to you Is unimpressive, undistinguished You know who...
Cellophane Mister Cellophane Shoulda been my name Mister Cellophane 'Cause you can look right through me Walk right by me And never know I'm there... I tell ya Cellophane Mister Cellophane Shoulda been my name Mister Cellophane 'Cause you can look right through me Walk right by me And never know I'm there Never even know I'm there.
Hope I didn't take up too much of your time.
Amos - Chicago
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edthepoet

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Jan 4 @ 7:54PM
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Well, my only super power is flirting, your so lucky to be able to become invisible.
I love the site you posted. I may go to your ex's place since I live just outside of Philly.
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enigmasrook

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Jan 4 @ 8:32PM
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Excellent.
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Palomino

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Jan 18 @ 4:01PM
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Wow...I can certainly relate to this blog! What an insightful and fantastic piece of writing!
~*~
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mystery2u888

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12 hrs 49 mins ago
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Fabulous..........and hands down to this one......
I love IT............
Definitely true to a fault
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