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Glamour is youth, and youth glamour. 

Whenever someone says they don’t know what it’s like to be glamorous, I always think they just don’t understand that. My friend Chris and I recently had a conversation in which he lamented that we hadn’t yet done anything in our own right to be celebrated in glamorous fashion. I understood what he meant – we weren’t famous or accomplished enough to travel in typically glamorous circles, but every once in a while we brushed up against it – at parties I managed to worm my way into through semi-famous acquaintances or film school events he hooked us into – where a certain director was so much drunker than I was that she stumbled down the stairs at one point – but we were casual acquaintances and guests – not the main attraction.

I also explained to him that I always felt glamorous at such times. And I still feel it whenever I get dolled up and outfitted in proper fashion. We have each had our moments of glamour – and it’s not something that depends on wealth or status or fame. 

We were all young once – therefore we were all once glamorous, and in our own way. 

I don’t remember
When I was young
I don’t recall the day
When I first saw the sun
But what I am certain
What is enough is just to remember
That once, once I was loved

I still surrender
The troubles I know
No use pretending
All the troubles ain’t my own
But what I am certain
What is enough is just to remember
That once, once I was loved

Youth is usually afforded the affinity of glamour. I felt that way back then – I felt the eyes of a room on me, felt the focused vision of someone directed my way, and I was fortunate to feel it regularly. “My mother raised me to be admired…” as someone once said. 

Chris lamented that we had no glamorous moments, unless we were at some fancy party by accident or approximation. “What are you talking about?!” I asked. We were young and attractive enough, and at those parties we were the ones that others viewed as glamorous – because glamour is youth. It made me sad that Chris didn’t feel that at the time, because it’s too late now – at least, it’s too late to feel the glamour of youth.

We can make up for it in other ways – and wisdom has a glamour that is even more enviable. Almost everyone has had the glamour of youth, whether they realize it or not; very few of us manage to achieve the glamour of wisdom. 

All is not lost… not yet…

After the years gone by
What amounts to the years in a life
What have we come to
When we reach our final days
If we can surrender
And that is enough
Just to remember that once
Once we were loved
Once we were beautiful
Once we were loved
If we can surrender
And that is enough
Just to remember that once
Once we were loved