Guess who I miss...
This is long for my kind of journl entry. But I hope you'll read it anyway. :-)
Today held an important lesson for me... and I thought you might get something out of it as well.
I was at my local Einsteins Bagels, getting in some prework and writing on my laptop. I was a little down on myself. I've not accomplished anything big and great. Yet. I've not saved any countries, fed the hungry, launched a political career or anything of the sort.
So... I sat there - thinking - "What is going to be MY big contribution to this world?"
And I heard, and recorded word for word - the following conversation as it happened in the bagel shop.
It changed me...
Maybe sometimes... in this life... the smaller things are the biggest things you'll ever need.
// Begin Story >
“I’m eighty-eight years old.” Marty called across the room to another old man sipping coffee and a bagel. The other man smiled and nodded silently. Marty was a man I'd never spoken to - but each time I go to the bagel shop he is there - talking to whomever will listen.
“I bet…" he continued. "I bet I could be your father!”
His words were long and drawn out. Like a Jewish grandfather, I thought. Large silver rimmed glasses framed his round, balding head. His gold watch sparked as he sipped his coffee. “Remember when a cup of coffee and a bagel cost 15 cents? Remember that? That was a long time ago tho…”
“I’m not far behind you…” the other man piped in quietly.
“What’s that?” Marty asked.
“I’m eighty-two. I’m not too far behind you.”
“Ah” Marty Nodded. “Yep… well, eighty-eight. One step and I’ll be ninety!” he continued with a new vigor. His voice was rough but youthful, proud, accomplished. “I was married fifty-seven years… Married nearly sixty years and guess who I miss?”
The old man didn’t answer… just nodded in empathy.
“Guess who I miss…” he asked again. His lips moved together… not waiting for an answer. “Yep…” he looked away, “My wife.”
“She was eighteen! I was thirty-four.” He took a sip. “I married a baby! Yeah… Didn’t matter tho… I out-lived her anyway.”
The old man nodded with a sympathetic smile.
“I can’t believe it… I’m alone eighteen years now. I stopped working at 70. My wife got sick… I gave up a eighty thousand-dollar-a-year job - and I took care of her. Yep. Nothing more important.” He shrugged, taking another long sip. “So? What are ya gonna do…”
“Would you believe it? I got nobody left? Everybody’s gone.” He smiles again… “Yeah… So what are ya gonna do…”
Marty adjusted his glasses and swiftly moved his hand over his eyebrow. “Married nearly sixty years,” he repeated sadly.
“Guess who I miss…”
Today held an important lesson for me... and I thought you might get something out of it as well.
I was at my local Einsteins Bagels, getting in some prework and writing on my laptop. I was a little down on myself. I've not accomplished anything big and great. Yet. I've not saved any countries, fed the hungry, launched a political career or anything of the sort.
So... I sat there - thinking - "What is going to be MY big contribution to this world?"
And I heard, and recorded word for word - the following conversation as it happened in the bagel shop.
It changed me...
Maybe sometimes... in this life... the smaller things are the biggest things you'll ever need.
// Begin Story >
“I’m eighty-eight years old.” Marty called across the room to another old man sipping coffee and a bagel. The other man smiled and nodded silently. Marty was a man I'd never spoken to - but each time I go to the bagel shop he is there - talking to whomever will listen.
“I bet…" he continued. "I bet I could be your father!”
His words were long and drawn out. Like a Jewish grandfather, I thought. Large silver rimmed glasses framed his round, balding head. His gold watch sparked as he sipped his coffee. “Remember when a cup of coffee and a bagel cost 15 cents? Remember that? That was a long time ago tho…”
“I’m not far behind you…” the other man piped in quietly.
“What’s that?” Marty asked.
“I’m eighty-two. I’m not too far behind you.”
“Ah” Marty Nodded. “Yep… well, eighty-eight. One step and I’ll be ninety!” he continued with a new vigor. His voice was rough but youthful, proud, accomplished. “I was married fifty-seven years… Married nearly sixty years and guess who I miss?”
The old man didn’t answer… just nodded in empathy.
“Guess who I miss…” he asked again. His lips moved together… not waiting for an answer. “Yep…” he looked away, “My wife.”
“She was eighteen! I was thirty-four.” He took a sip. “I married a baby! Yeah… Didn’t matter tho… I out-lived her anyway.”
The old man nodded with a sympathetic smile.
“I can’t believe it… I’m alone eighteen years now. I stopped working at 70. My wife got sick… I gave up a eighty thousand-dollar-a-year job - and I took care of her. Yep. Nothing more important.” He shrugged, taking another long sip. “So? What are ya gonna do…”
“Would you believe it? I got nobody left? Everybody’s gone.” He smiles again… “Yeah… So what are ya gonna do…”
Marty adjusted his glasses and swiftly moved his hand over his eyebrow. “Married nearly sixty years,” he repeated sadly.
“Guess who I miss…”