Growing Old

In October Cydni and I were having brunch at Denny's and I was reading to her a new book that I bought recently as we waited for our order. While waiting I noticed some random people being seated and occasionally as their proximity encroached my personal space I would say hi appropriately and smile. In this act of stay away kindness a senior citizen couple was seated across from us. My heart is not completely Grinch-like but its caged and on a leash and started to feel the warmth and growth it typically feels at times like these.

They looked so frail and small sitting in the smallest booth imaginable while waiters and waitresses whizzed by them. For them though the space was like their own world where they were the only inhabitants. They sat there whispering to each other and smiling. He leaned over and moved her hair out of her face and smile to her sweetly. He whispered something that made her laugh and she did so uninhibited because they were the only ones alive in their world so why laugh small. They obviously cared for each other and had been caring for a long time. They probably passed the days of being lovers and are now further strengthening their time as companions with great amount satisfaction and peace.

Cydni and I finished our brunch and it was good. I was momentarily at peace with the world too having witnessed an almost extinct phenomenon of human relationship in its display of longevity and peace. I felt ungrateful because of my complaints of late but hopeful that I can make amends. As I walked to the front to pay my bill I decided I wanted to thank them for being that kind as to share some of their peace with me. So I asked the cashier for their bill and asked her not to tell them their bill was paid until I had completely left the parking lot.

Tears in my eyes I bounced off to the car with Cydni singing a song and play around with her like the best friend she is to me. I love that there is peace in the world and there are people experiencing it. So my tears weren't of sorrow because I lacked what they possessed, they were of joy for them because they possessed it and that maybe me one day I too will have the same. I cried for the mere peace of growing old with a companion that I glimpsed in them in that its the attainable that I thought impossible and I witnessed it that day.

(I forgotten this happened, after my last blog post this evening I checked email and read a story that reminded me of this very experience. In remembering I am grateful all over again.)