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Date Created: 08/27/2008
Yesterday afternoon I decided that I would go down to Broadway at the Beach and
enjoy some shopping. While wandering about the strip, I stopped at the IMAX
theater to see what was playing. The next show to be on (in 15 minutes) was
"Monsters of the Sea" in 3D....so I payed my $13 and went in. From the time the
movie started, I was amazed at the 3D effects. The so called prehistoric
monsters would not only come out of the screen to look you in the face, they
would swim past your head, as if to actually brush you on occasion. It was one
of the best IMAX films that I have seen.
The show was over at 2145 and the "famous" Broadway Fireworks were set to start
at 2200. Never having witnessed this "must see" before, I found me a spot right
next to the railing that surrounds the lake. As I stood there wishing that time
would hurry up because I had other things I wanted to do, I noticed something
that I really haven't paid attention to before. When children are waiting for
something such as these fireworks to start, they are filled with such
anticipation....you can see it in their faces. They rarely take their eyes off
of the spot that they know the show will come from, and if so it is only to ask,
"how much longer". But as I looked around I saw many senior citizens that were
smiling and pointing to where the fireworks would come from....with almost that
same child-like glem in their eyes. One pair inparticular caught my attention
more than the rest. The couple looked like they were well into their eighties,
and as I watched them assist each other I wondered what their life was like, and
the dread of getting old crept into my mind. While I stood there watching them
and imagining what I would look like when I get that age, the elderly gentleman
stood up and walked right toward me. He came up to the garbage can that was
just to the left of me and threw some papers in it, but as he did, he looked at
me, smiled, said hello and then looked up in the sky and said, "isn't this the
most beautiful evening"? I nodded my head and replied, "yes it is"...but in the
next second I realized that it wasn't a clear night at all...as a matter of
fact, it had been raining all day and the clouds were ready to burst open at any
time, drenching us all. I watched him as he walked away, but he didn't return
to his seat. I noticed that his frail companion was looking around for him and
at one time it seemed like she was almost in panic because she couldn't see him.
After about five minutes, the old gentleman returned, this time holding two ice
cream cones. The look on the face of the lady was priceless and I saw her wipe
the tears from her eyes. I had to wonder whether it was because she had become
afraid when she couldn't see him or was it perhaps their first date from 50 yars
ago that he had just recreated....I will never know. Just as he took his seat,
the fireworks started. Never have I ever witnessed such an incredible display
of fireworks so closely. It was breathtaking. During the final seconds when
the explosions were great and the smoke was heavy, I once again glanced at the
elderly couple. I saw the man lean over and with the napkin that he was
holding, wipe a small spot of ice cream from the ladies cheek. Then they both
just smiled at each other and went back to watching the show. When it was over
they both clapped as if they were at a musical production in New York City.
I walked away feeling happy inside. That elderly couple made me realize that
getting older isn't something that we have to fear, but that it is a time when
we can enjoy life again. It's the years between college and retirement that we
forget how to live. |
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Comments
 | glatt513
09/24/2008 2:04 PM
Well, I like ice cream too! |
|  | JeepGirl04
09/07/2008 8:01 AM
WOW, that made me tear up. I
thought I was the only one that
had "moments" like that.
Sometimes makes me think that they
are angels sent to remind us to
LIVE...
How ya been girl? |
|  | RaggedOleMan
08/27/2008 4:55 PM
"It's the years between college
and retirement that we forget how
to live." ~gtowngirl
Wonderful story, GtownGirl,
reading it made me cloud up a bit,
too...thank you for that. Well,
it doesn't take a lot to "cloud me
up", I'm an emotional individual.
Often a problem, that...
You know, I'm not so sure that we
"forget" how to live. I'm more
inclined to believe that many of
us truly just don't "know" how to
live that way and/or we don't give
ourselves permission to be
"ourselves" for fear of being
judged or something silly like
that.
During the course of our lives we,
I should say "I" begin to realize
what it's all about. Seems like
you're getting a jump-start!
That said, the older couples
behavior & the sharing of your
thought's & wisdom is inspiring to
this...
RaggedOleMan
~jL
Seattle |
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