Reflections on Beauty
This was a comment in regards to a Red Bubble sort of post/conversation. I liked it well enough to rescue it and post it here
Sometimes I do my best work when answering other people.
None of these photos are mine, all of them are images I found by googling such things as “cafe reflections” , “beauty”, “reflections in a diner window”, and “raining”
For the record, I love diners! They can be called cafes, coffee shops, diners, or whatever, I love them. The sort of places where food is good and fairly cheap, windows are ready to be looked out or into, odd characters come in (if they don’t already work there) and the waitresses are not afraid to give their opinions on what you are reading or their two cents about your conversation.
To me, they are the best and brightest of all things American.
Reflections on Beauty belongs to the following groups:
Everyday LifeBeauty is something you have to be willing to see. You sit in a diner and you see the reflection of yourself, transformed into some other, ethereal being. The waitresses are dancing spots of color, swaying to and fro, the gleam of the metal off the coffee maker becomes a distant, beckoning star. You turn to your companion and say:
“Look at that. Isn’t it beautiful?” and they look out and go “But, it’s raining. How is that beautiful?”
Already, you know in your heart that this is a question that has been answered repeatedly, 
; but, not all of us like rain, so you say “No, no, I meant the reflection.”
“Reflection?” they say. They look at it. “What are you a f…ng idiot? It’s just a reflection. Hey!” they yell at a bright spot, who sways over to see what’s up. ”... do you believe this f…ng idiot? Thinking reflections in a window can be beautiful.”
They both titter and said companion continues. “It’s just a reflection, dim bulb. It’s nothing special. Reflections can’t be beautiful.”
And, then, you realize that, yes, they are exactly right. Because, to them, once they have narrowed the definition of reflection,
and the definition of beauty
to what they’d feel comfortable with being seen enjoying in public, then, oh yes .. to them a reflection, especially one in a mundane diner
!
cannot be beautiful.
They have eyes, they have thoughts, they can see beauty.. where they want to, where they have been taught it is acceptable for persons of their race, sex, country, etc. to find beauty. So it is not that nothing can ever be beautiful to them, it is that they are handicapped.
Some people, fortunately, can at least see that beauty once a photographer, painter, or sketch artist comes along and isolates it on paper or canvas, though; and, that is something to be most thankful for.
jarede
powerful
Arletta replied
Oh good. I wasn’t just imagining it, then. lol Thank you!
jarede
lol…..i love to read your stuff. even the simplest topic is eye opening – thank you for sharing.
Arletta replied
And, now, with your comment, you found the key to my heart. Thank you.
kenspics
Having read this Arletta. I concur.. your writing is not only good.. it is exceptionally good!!
Thank you for opening my eyes.. to possibilities!!