My Grandpa
Amid my morning scurry this past week, somewhere between the city bus stop & my favorite morning bagel destination, I saw the most enchanting elderly couple. Sitting outside while perusing a newspaper, they had coffee cups in one hand & each other's hand in the other. Oh sure I see fabulous older couples everyday. I live in a gorgeous, healthy & active city with no lack of beautiful people; people who take incredible care of themselves & look far younger than the birth dates posted on their passports, but there was something innately different about this couple. I like to refer to it as the Glimmer Shimmer.
As I stood in line for my avocado & egg with cheddar, I felt a gentle nudge upon my shoulder. "Excuse me miss, he said as I turned to find the gentleman standing behind me, I couldn't help but notice your clothing as you passed by." Me? I cleared my throat, "Oh this old thing?" Old thing of course meant carefully plotted out funky bright polka dot tights & a flash dance worthy hot pink sweater & my favorite cowboy boots. Ok, admittedly I was out for attention, but suddenly I found myself hoping for the positive reinforcement style feedback & not the other style..."Yes!" he said. "surely a snappy dresser like yourself must know where a fellow could get a fancy hat for his sweetheart?"
As my lips formed a collective sigh of relief I thought, "what did he just say?" YES He had just called that lovely woman I had spotted with him moments before his SWEETHEART. He had just complimented my wardrobe. He had just used the word fancy & he had just asked me about HATS! Needless to say, I wanted him to be my new best buddy for life, I wanted to stash him in my pocket & keep him forever.
The conversation continued as he told me of an after the holidays party they had been invited to & how the dress code was fun & fancy. He introduced me to his wife & my heart fluttered as though I had just stumbled upon the sweetest story of my life. I wanted to hit PAUSE. I wanted to stop the moment, suspend it in time & maybe turn it into some happy & sappy iPhone app for people who don't believe in true love. As my mind swirled with thoughts of her smile, my app idea & the perfect black & grey scarf she had wrapped around her perfectly coiffed dark hair, she reached out to shake my hand... "You must be the sweetheart he mentioned", I said "Yes indeed! For 42 short years now!" she giggled with a giggle more like that of a school girl than a grandmother. Her energy was contagious & the way she looked at him?? It was the kind of look found in the movies under the strict guidance of a scene director, only it was quiet & real & calming.
We visited for a bit & I exchanged my vast hat knowledge for his surefire tested & true tricks for keeping cowboy boots shiny. She laughed & smiled at almost every word he uttered, as if it was the first time she had ever heard him tell a story in all of their 42 years together. The sincerity between the two of them was warmer than the unseasonable 60 degrees of that day in January & I felt it's rays stronger.
I walked away thinking about the journey.
My journey & giggles & sweethearts ..
Oh & hats. I thought a lot about hats!
Shiny Cowboy Boot Wishes & Sweetheart Dreams
xo
Birdee Bow
