I feel like I should write this, because I believe that the world needs more articles like this. More stories like this. More events like this.
As I was walking with my beautiful, beloved girlfriend, along Main street, after having gotten a smoothie with her for our usual date, we crossed the street to the other side, and as we crossed, passed an elderly couple who were also apparently out on a date for coffee. They had their coffees in hand, and walked to the opposite side of the street. My girlfriend and I then proceeded to walk down the street, to a nearby bench and sit on it. What I didn't realize at first was that the elderly couple did the same thing, across the street.
Emily and I sat together on the bench on Main street, simply enjoying each others' company, occasionally exchanging our usual loving words, among other small talk – I find that when in love, you apparently always have something new to share in conversation – when I glanced across the street and noticed the elderly couple apparently doing the same thing that we were. I was shocked, and awed, by the sheer beauty of their love from across the street.
As I observed the elderly couple I saw that they were holding hands while sipping their coffee and presumably conversing with each other about the events going on in their own lives as Emily and I were ourselves. I watched, and I realized that while there are probably older people, who have been together longer than they have, that they are still a great example of love's endurance. One would presume that they have gone through many years of ups and downs together, but they have gotten through it. Hardship, and easy times, all the same, they have gotten through it, with each others' love to guide them through the different trials of life.
And as I see this, and all of these thoughts are going through my mind, I realize that I was meant to see this, that it shows hope for the future. Hope that love can and will endure many things, the good and the bad. Hope that one day it could be us on that side of the street. Maybe that is just the simple hope of a dreamer, but what would the world be today without dreamers?
Without dreamers the world would be bleak, nobody would have accomplished anything, and there would be no happiness to be found in the darkness at all. But as it stands today, even in the dark times that the world seems to be going through, a young couple on a date walking down the street can still witness an elder couple doing the same thing, sharing similar experiences, but with many more experiences in their past. Proof that love can endure. Proof that there is something to dream of, and hope for.
So, as I started out this, I wasn't quite sure how it would go, but I had some idea of what I wanted to say. I've said it, and as I said, I think the world needs more of this.
-David Worley
September 17th 2009.
