After traveling several hundred miles on a very hot and windy day, we were tired and hungry. The restaurant we selected appeared to be a good bet because the parking lot was full, even on a Tuesday evening.
As I held the restaurant door open for Jo Anne, I noticed an elderly gentleman a few steps behind me, so I also held the door for him. He said something like, “oh, you two are together so please, go on ahead.” I smiled and commented that we have been together for nearly 55 years. Walking slowly, and slightly bent over, he quietly said, “I remember those days.”
That remark caught me a little off guard, but I quickly dismissed it when the hostess appeared and showed us to our seats. Several minutes later, I noticed the elderly man at a nearby table, looking at the menu. He appeared lonely and somewhat down and out. I reflected on his earlier comment and shared with Jo Anne that his remark reminded me how blessed we are to still be a couple after so many decades.
We enjoyed a nice dinner, but several times during our meal I glanced at the man and wondered what his life was like. What did he do for a living? Did he have any hobbies? How long was he married? Did he have children or grandchildren? If we could replay that evening, I would have invited him to join us. He may have declined, but maybe not. Hopefully there would have been 3 of us chatting, telling stories, and laughing while we broke bread together. We could have made a new friend and all of us may have left the restaurant with a spring in our step.
Several times during the next few days, I reflected on that brief encounter. The gentleman was completely unaware of how he impacted me, reminding me that even though Jo Anne and I have been together for a long time we should not take it for granted. One day there will be just one of us left, eating alone in a restaurant, perhaps feeling a little melancholy, recalling memories of a happier time when we were a couple. Maybe someone will invite the lonely spouse to join them for dinner. What a wonderful, unselfish gift that would be!
