ABSTRACT
Almost all the women whose voices we have heard so far are in relationships with others—significant others, families, friends. Some are married or partnered, while a few are single. Many have families: adult children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, siblings and very aged parents. All have friends and acquaintances and move around in a world of strangers. The hall of mirrors reflects all of us: we see ourselves and are seen; others see us and are seen, in an endless sequence. We see not only our future aging selves in those older than us but our past aging in those younger—and they see us. The metaphor of the mirror is common among those of us who write about aging. Another gift bestowed by an old body is not being verbally or physically harassed by strange men in public or by our bosses at work or school. Pain of all kinds and origins is likely to increase as we age.
