Years ago as a high school student I read The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells. I think I was expecting something that was in the nature of science fiction which I loved, but what I got was a tale of a scientist who hates mankind, and discovers a way to make himself invisible to escape having to interact with the world. As the novel progresses, a man who was not very attractive to begin with, becomes absolutely bad-tempered as he has to deal with the problems of moving through the world with absolutely no clothes on so that he cannot be spotted.
I have become an invisible woman (although fully clothed), but I hope not someone who is becoming inescapably crabby. I first became aware of this fact when I walked through a busy mall with my tall, very attractive granddaughter. Suddenly we were getting sidelong glances from the people we passed, something I never experience. On my own I could glide through any busy place, and remain completely unnoticed.
I was reminded of the Japanese puppet theater, Bunraku, which I attended while living in Japan as a teenager. The puppets were moved by three people, the chief puppeteer in charge of moving the head and right hand. All the puppeteers were dressed in black so they were ‘invisible’. To my 14-year-old eyes they were anything but, and the stage felt crowded with all the puppets and the handlers. But I began to understand that to the Japanese audience those men dressed in black were indeed not there, although at the same time the audience was entranced with their skill.
I now realize that at my age, when I go out in the world, I am permanently encased in black. The world audience does not see me. I overhear conversations that are not meant for my ears, I can observe interactions between people without being noticed, I can enjoy watching children at play without intruding. The world lies before me and it is a very interesting place. I am not in the least cantankerous about this. I am having a wonderful time out here watching the world go by. I would say look for me, but you have probably already passed me by unnoticed.