Checking the mirror to see if we’re here – Palladium-Item

Chuck Avery 5:30 p.m. ET May 4, 2017

Chuck Avery(Photo: Provided)

Supposedly we humans are the only living creatures who are aware of our existence, which is a roundabout way of saying that we are the only ones who know we are going to die. We are also the only ones who care.

Some recently-completed study has reinforced the first statement; the second is opinion. For the study, behavior scientists put various animals in front of a mirror to see which would know they were looking at their reflections and which would react as though they were looking at another animal.

Some of the higher primates chimps, orangutans, etc. began to understand that they were looking at themselves. Humans did not recognize themselves until they reached the age of 18 to 24 months. (Cats, I suspect, after realizing that their reflections offered no amusement, would show their usual disdain.)

One might argue that our many and various codes of behavior can be summarized by the common expression, If I did that, how could I look at myself in the mirror? Along those same lines, if we were not mindful of our impending deaths, I doubt most religions whose primary attraction is that a life after this one would have many followers.

Being aware of our mortality has also given birth to contrasting philosophies to explain our existence. The one we choose individually to follow guides our lifestyles and forms our personalities.

Take my old army buddy, Frankie Oliverio, for example. After living in the same barracks with Frankie for over a year and spending much of my off-duty time with him, I would say he was a dedicated hedonist with overtones of narcissism.

Frankie was one of these small, but perfectly molded, men of Italian descent. With his dark complexion, curly black hair and blue eyes, he closely resembled a young Tony Curtis. He was self-assured, but never unpleasant. He appreciated what nature had given him and made the best of it.

We were stationed in Germany, near the tourist city of Wiesbaden, where we spent most of our leisure hours. After picking up our passes and before we left the barracks, Frankie always made one last stop in front of a mirror to make sure that everything was perfect. He would tug one curly lock of hair until it hung jauntily over his forehead. Satisfied, he would turn to me and say, Lets go get em. Frankie swaggered through the streets of downtown Wiesbaden like John Travolta strutting across the Brooklyn Bridge to the tune of Staying Alive.

As young men, Frankie and I had a kind of symbiotic relationship. I hung with him because he attracted girls; he hung with me for the contrast.

As people age, they sometimes turn from hedonism to solipsism, which is related to narcissism. For example, my step-father and father-in-law both believed that when they died, the world would come to an end. They were so convinced that they did everything but walk around town carrying a sign.

The true solipsist would insist that all reality exists only in the mind of the individual. It is hard to argue with a solipsist, for he believes he is responsible not only for your argument, but also for your very being. To his way of thinking, if he closes his eyes and stops his ears, you will no longer exist.

Now that were both older, I decided to try to contact my old friend, Frankie. I eventually located a relative in West Virginia, who said Frankie died over a decade ago. I was sorry to hear it, but hes still alive in my mind.

Perhaps thats where he existed all the time.

EmailChuck Averyat:charlesravery@gmail.com.

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Checking the mirror to see if we're here - Palladium-Item