Marks on the Wall

We had gone shopping for a pair of pants for Joe, I was scooting around checking out a variety of possibilities. I found something I thought he'd like and called him over. As he was looking at them a young couple came in. They were boys. They were in love. They were still at the giggle stage of relationship but there was something in the way they looked at each other that suggested to me that there was a core of strength in their relationship.

Joe went into the change room. I watched them as they passed me. Their hands brushed and they looked at each other. They were just boys. Maybe 20. Maybe 21. I fought the desire to envy their youth. I fought the desire to want, for a moment, the feel that the future was still so far away. I fought to center myself into a contentment to be there, now. To be here, presently.

Coming out of the change room, Joe gave me a quick nod. I decided that we should find a shirt that went with the pants and we continued to shop. In time I simply forgot the two young men and enjoyed just being out together. Over lunch and a cup of tea, we saw an elderly couple just being quietly together. I fought the urge to envy them. The peace they had together. The life they shared, resting quietly in the silence between them. They both had canes and when she got up the two of them jokingly dueled for a second with their canes. They were at the giggle stage of their relationship.

Do you remember growing up and having your height marked on a door jam? There were the pencil marks and names scribbled beside them. Marking out family members and ages. It kind of felt like that today. Couples marking various stages of their relationship. All lovely.

But what was nice was learning that what begins with giggles. Ends with giggles. Now isn't that simply a wonderful plan?