We watched President Obama's state-of-the-union speech in HD last night and -- I know this sounds shallow -- but I kept getting distracted at how old most of the members of Congress, the Supreme Court and members of the cabinet looked.

I noticed sun damage on faces, stooped shoulders and backs, late-life bellies, some head tremors, rheumy eyes and in one or two, that distant look that's either early Alzheimer's or a been here-done that-forever weariness.

The aging of Congress was more reassuring than depressing.

Despite expensive haircuts, some obvious facework here and there, elegant suits and perfect teeth, the high definition TV showed well that aging spares no man or woman. Money, intelligence and power cannot stop it. Aging, the great equalizer.

(AP Photo by Saul Loeb)
 

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