True Love

I'm not much for people watching. I don't like to be watched myself, so why would I stare at others. But the other night, while out to dinner with my family as we celebrated our son's 11th birthday , this married couple--sitting next to us--caught my attention.

Both of them were probably in their late 50's, maybe early 60's. A husband gazing longingly at his wife, occasionally smiling as they ate. She concentrated on her food and occasionally returned the smile. His eyes never left her.

Some time before, she had a stroke. The physical damage was evident: slow to speak and react. However, through the trauma, her spirit was still alive. To her husband, she was--is--still his beautiful wife, to love and cherish until the very end.

When the resturant sang happy birthday to our son, we found out that her birthday was on the same day, too. She congratulated our son, laughed and, for a brief moment, was young again.

As the couple got up to leave, they smiled at us and said their goodbyes. He held her hand and led her toward the door...hand-in-hand like the day he walked with her at the altar.