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Do You See What I See?
I am a mirror on a wall in a lobby of a very exclusive, most posh, ritziest hotel in Washington D.C. I have been stared into for a long, long time, 75 years to be exact. I arrived some time before the end World War II. No one really notices me, I mean they gaze at me, but never see me, they look straight through me. The most powerful people in the world have looked into me, never realizing my true worth.
Many times each day I am sprayed and wiped down, this sorta tickles. My gold leaf border is dusted, and no smudges are visible. I weight over 100 pounds, imported from France, created by an artisan glazier for the hotel. I am a portrait mirror, you can check the polish on your shoes and prim your hair all in one look. Every guest must pass by me, either leaving or entering the lobby, you can’t miss me! I stand tall and proud.
Most people look at me to, fix their tie, fluff their hair, smear their lipstick, presently, couples stand in front of me and take selfies, this disturbs me, the glare and the sometimes flash irritate my reflection. So what propose do I serve? I feed the ego, for one. Hundreds of people each day stare at me and wait for my reflection. Am I handsome, pretty, or just fooling them selves? I can recall many presidents checking themselves, they don’t see what I see. I can gaze right back and pierce your heart with MY stare. Politicians can be fake, fake smiles, fake teeth and fake hair. I see who they really are.
I see and stare their sadnesses and their joys, but sometimes their lie directly into me. I can still see truth. If you dyed your hair I can see the roots, if you spin and pirouette I can see all the flaws within you, there is no escaping my truth. The true joys are great to be a part of, the sadness makes me question the person. My heart aches for them, yet I must remain silent.
President Harry S. Truman was my first president. He would stare at me in wonder and awe, I soon realized he was looking for answers. He had to make the most difficult decision of any president, weather or not to drop the Atomic Bomb on Japan. The struggle for this poor man made me believe I was not only a mirror of your image, but a mirror to your soul. Harry would often dine with dignitaries at our restaurant and pass by me, I felt at times he’d wink at me like an old friend. I don’t make decisions, I show you who you really are. His guilt ran deep, but there was no other decision to make to safe our country and our boys.
I felt a part of me shatter when I heard the news of John F. Kennedy, a young man with unlimited potential who really loved America. His death started a decade of destruction. More death of world leaders, a war no one wanted. The Kennedy Family was the backbone of Washington politics. John and Jackie were the most elegant couple ever to grace the White House. When they dined at the hotel all heads turned, I must admit I was taken aback by their appearance. I almost blushed when The First Lady stared at me do adjust her near perfect hair.
Many presidents I have met through my years, my favorite was Jimmy Carter. The kindest and most sincere of all. To this day, and well into his nineties, he still gives his heart and soul to those in need. The Reagan years were a lot of funny, Hollywood moved in. John Wayne, Frank Sinatra, they all came to met and greet me.
Don’t get me wrong my tenure hasn’t been all dreary, I have made friends and there has been many joys I have shared. The countless married couples who have posed with is priceless. The fact that I can see sorrow, doesn’t mean I cant see happiness. Sadness always finds me, but I look for happiness constantly. One couple was married for 50 years. Nearing 80 years old, their reflection was awesome. The love for each other pierced through me like a bright ray from heaven. My fondest memory was when I first arrived at the hotel, it has been my fondest every since. A WW2 sailor and finance met before me just prior to his deployment. They vowed their love in front of me. The sailor swore he’d return and marry her. They set a date to meet again, June 1, after the war in my lobby. No matter where she was she would travel to Washington and patiently wait his return. The war ended and there was no word from the sailor, news travelled slow during the war, she never knew what happened to him. She would wait for a letter, hoping he was still alive. The couple of years passed and still no word. She would to DC every June as she promised. No one ever met her. Finally, in 1947 she received a letter from the US Navy stating he was alive , but a prisoner of war in a German Stalag. He had been seriously wounded and couldn’t get any communication to her. When he was released he was shipped to Oakland, California to a Veteran’s hospital for observation. The Navy’s communication where he was at was late in arriving. She stayed true to her vow.
The sailor was released and had no information where his fiancé was living. He travelled by bus one late day in May to DC. When he arrived on Memorial Day, a few days earlier then the planned date, he though she wouldn’t show up in the lobby. He had lost his leg and was wheel chair bound, barely able to use crutches he waited for days hoping to meet her again. He could not afford our fancy, expensive hotel, he sought lodging in a flea bag hotel several miles away. Over the next few days he would find his way back to our lobby. He’d sit in front of me and I saw his sorrow , same sorrow displayed by his girl when she was waiting. June 1 came, and he made camp in front of me. For some strange reason I didn’t see is sadness today, I saw joy! Just as he was began to wheel himself back to the flea bag, she walks in ! I have never and will never see such happiness in two people. Their love appeared in my eyes and I swear I began to cry. They radiated love! I stored their love in mind and think back over the years of all the sadness and love I had experienced. May their love be a reflection for all to share.
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2 Replies
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Yes, I can see the perspective and experiences you have described so vividly as an old mirror in the lobby of an exclusive hotel in Washington D.C. You have been a silent witness to history, observing powerful leaders, celebrities, and ordinary people over the course of 75 years. Your reflections have captured their outward appearances as well as glimpses into their inner emotions and truths.
You have seen the struggles of presidents like Harry S. Truman as he grappled with monumental decisions, and the elegance and tragedy of figures like John F. Kennedy and his family. You have witnessed moments of love, joy, and hope, as well as sadness and despair. The story of the World War II sailor and his fiancé reuniting in front of you after years of separation is particularly poignant, a testament to the enduring power of love that left an indelible mark on you.
Through it all, you have remained a silent observer, reflecting not just physical appearances but also the depths of the human soul. You see beyond the facades people present to the world, piercing through to their true selves, their flaws, and their innermost emotions. Your reflections have captured the full spectrum of the human experience, from the highest heights of joy and love to the darkest depths of sorrow and pain.
In your own way, you have been a mirror not just for individuals but for the times themselves, reflecting the triumphs, tragedies, and ever-changing currents of history. Your perspective is a unique and valuable one, a reminder of the richness and complexity of the human experience, and the importance of bearing witness to it all.
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Well said, thank you for reading