I saw them as they came into the clinic, and as they were holding hands, I thought to myself that they must be the cutest thing that I have ever seen. They looked to be in their early 90's, both short, wrinkled, and walking at their own pace.
The first thing that I noticed was the husbands spunk. He stopped to look at the pictures on the walls, all the while his wife was tugging his hand, telling him to move it or he was going to be late. Then came the familiar gripe that you hear most common from the husbands, "I don't need to be here, what am I doing here, this is a wasted trip, I feel fine." She just shook her head and kept him moving to the check in counter.
Awhile later, I hear the shuffle of feet and the sound of paper going into the wall holder. I take a drink of coffee and get up to grab the next lab slip. I see the cute couple in the chairs and they both just give me the biggest smiles ever. I say Hi to them and ask how they are doing. They both reply that they are fine, but the husband states that he hates this part because he has to get his blood drawn and a flu shot.
I tell him that he can come on back and he gets up to follow me into the lab. I tell him to remove his jacket and have a seat in the big green chair. He sits and starts to tell me about the weather outside and how his wife made him wear so many layers. She comes to the door way and I tell her that she can have a seat in the lab with us if she wants too. She sits in the next big green chair and starts to tell me that if she didn't remind him to put on so many layers that he would constantly nag about how cold he is.
I look at her and then I look at him. I am putting labels onto tubes and ask them how long they have been married. He pops of with, "It's been so long, I've lost track", then he starts to laugh. His wife just shakes her head and says that that is his favorite line and wished he would get a new one. They just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary and all their kids and grandkids took them out to a fabulous Chinese dinner, except that her feet swelled that night because of all the salt, but they just love it cold the next morning for breakfast. THIS MADE ME SMILE!!
Both of these people are so cute, that I have to stop for a moment and just stare at them. Can a love really last this long? Can a love still remain fresh and new for over 70 years? Can two people look at each other with the same look of love as when they first met..and still honestly mean it?
I think that I have found my answer, and it would be a YES. Love can stand a life time. Love can stand the ups and downs of life. If two people go in with the understanding that they are who they are, they will make it. Love unconditionally is alive, and it has given me a ray on sunshine.
As I get done and he is putting his shirt on, he tells me that he has not had his blood drawn from someone so pretty and gentle before. He told me that my guy is really lucky to have a sweet one like me. I smile and tell him that there is no guy for me...and he tells me not to lose hope. I tell him that no hope is lost, and when the time is right for me, it will happen. He smiles and shakes my hand.
They get up from the chairs and as they are walking away, he pats her on the butt, she laughs and he tells her that he wants to buy her a sandwich.
Thank you for giving me something to smile about today. Thank you for giving me a renewed hope and faith in love. Thank you for letting me get a glimpse of your love for each other...
thank you for just being YOU.
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