Idealised Images

I used to have a real crush on a guy where I used to work, he was an apprentice like me at the time. I never had enough courage to say anything and I wasn't 'out' at the time. When I think back to him I still have this perfect image in my mind.

I was browsing around friends reunited the other day and to my surprise I saw his name listed and he had included a photo. He's now living in Australia with his girlfriend. When I looked at the photo it was a bit of a shock. I know it was quite a few years ago but even so...

The years hadn't been kind to him, or at least he looked a lot different from the image I had in my head. Do we conveniently remove all the flaws of old flames over the years? If he saw me now would he be thinking the same thing. I guess we look at ourselves in the mirror every day and we don't see the aging process.

I know if I met him now I wouldn't really give him a second look but if we had been together for the past 20 years would I feel differently. I've been with my partner for 19 years and looks just don't really come into it any more. There's so much more when you have known someone for that long.

It does make me wonder though what happens when you split up from someone after that many years. My tastes in terms of looks haven't really changed over the years but the chances of actually finding someone that I find attractive and that would find me attractive have got to be slim. Does that mean relationships between older people don't begin with lust?