3rd June 2012 Autumn Love

On my way to the cafe each morning, I usually have my eyes on the beach on the other side of the road, as the scene is prettier. The side where I was walking was the pavement opposite where cafes, restaurants and shops are. Even though the beach is the same, but the scene changes, always looks a little different each day. As the sea is live so is whatever on and around it.

But this morning my attention was caught by an old couple sitting on one of the benches by the pavement when I was still quite some yards away. I couldn't help but slow down my pace so that I could see more of them and watch longer. I couldn't stop to look and the distance was too short before I had to pass them completely. Nosy? Not at all. I was, how should I put it, captivated.

They looked like foreigners. What I meant was they didn't look Spanish. I guess both must be in their early or possibly mid 80's, well and warmly dressed, might be sitting there for a rest after a walk. Not waiting for friends as in that case they would or should more likely be in one of the many cafes along there, practically door to door. It was also possible I supposed that they were waiting for some family members to come and pick them up by car.

I was so captured at first by the way they looked at each other, a half smile on both their faces . Even their eyes seemed smiling. Then he held a handkerchief in one hand, with the other he gently turned her face a bit more towards him, so that he could give the corner of her mouth a little wipe, stopped, looked at her , then a big smile that seemed to say " There, it (whatever it was) is gone. " He put the handkerchief away to free his hand, which then caught hers, and they turned to look at each other again, simultaneously let spread a detaining smile on their wrinkled faces. As far as I could tell, all that time not a single word had been exchanged. They didn't need words!

I couldn't have walked any slower to watch more without drawing a lot of weird looks from other passers-by, although I had a very strong desire to. I passed them half hoping I could give them a smile too, but they only had eyes for each other. I went on happily, replaying the endearing picture over in my mind.

That scene touched my heart profoundly. The love, the caring and mutual understanding, the happiness they shared knowing that very special love, experiencing it, in the smallest minute doses in their daily routines, in the most casual moments. Every little gesture was an act of pure love and devotion to each other, accumulated, grown and deepened over a life time.

Tags: oldcouple

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