Something is wrong with my mirror in the morning.
I step up close,
take a look.
That’s when I see her.
She looks familiar.
“Do I know you?” I ask.
Yes, of course! Those are Mom’s eyes!
“Is it you, Mom, come for a visit?”
She’s silent.
I look again.
“Is it you, Grandma?”
Scrambling to translate,
she doesn’t answer.
This one speaks my language:
“Oh, no!” she says, staring back at me:
My seventeen-year-old self looks out at that old woman
in my mirror.
“Oh, no!” I say.
Mary Elyn Bahlert, 8/2020
Cognitive Dissonance
TheWisdomYears.org 
Isn’t it odd how we see ourselves differently on different days? I often have that “Oh no!” moment where I see my mom (on one of her worst days) in the mirror. Then on another day I am quite convinced I look younger than my actual years. Does my face change? Or is it only my vision that changes?
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Oh, I’ve definitely had this experience. The ghosts of generations looking at me through my eyes in the mirror! Thank you, Mary Elyn!❤️
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Nice to hear from you, Phyllis. And thanks for reading my blog!
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I think I have the same mirror! I like the way you write. I especially love
“She looks familiar.
“Do I know you?” I ask.
Yes, of course! Those are Mom’s eyes!
Is it you, Mom, come for a visit?
She’s silent.”
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Thank you, Jennifer! Maybe you do have the same mirror! And I thank you so much for reading my blog!
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