Joyce and I sat here in our office drinking coffee every morning and we would talk about things, plans for the day, our loved ones, our friends and family. We would discuss how my daily posts would be best presented. It made for a delightful morning as we listened to our music. I miss that. We could talk endlessly about everything under the sun. Later we would sit in here, me drinking my daily beer ration when Joyce had her whiskey and water over ice.
Now I sit there alone, talking aloud to myself so I can still keep my vocal chords working. I talk to people in Walmart or in the grocery store or the beer store. A year ago, I was in the grocery store when I kept seeing a woman who looked just like Joyce, same face, same body, same mannerism. She had an old man with her. The poor guy was hunched over like a pretzel as he hobbled around following her. The two of them ended up checking out right behind me. We finished sorting our groceries at the same time and I was halfway out the door when I could no longer contain myself. I had to stop and speak with her. Her eyes sparkled like morning dew and were just a shade darker that Joyce’s eyes were. She was so much like Joyce, it was uncanny. She was a delight that made my day. I told her how much she looked like Joyce. and how much I missed her. She was pleasant and it was like speaking with Joyce again. She and her husband had been married 55 years. I told her that when you have to take care of a spouse is when you really learn to love them. She leaned in to me and said, “I don’t have to take care of him, I want to.” That is the most beautiful sentence I have ever heard. We talked and her husband quietly and patiently waited behind her. I said goodbye to her and shook his hand and told him how lucky he was to have her. He agreed and then we parted. I have never seen them again, but I would sure enjoy seeing how they are today and speaking to them once again.
No comments:
Post a Comment