I was at Target and decided to get Starbucks. I had just come from a heavy therapy session, hadn't eaten all day, and my To Do list of errands was just beginning. I needed sugar, caffeine, and something out of the ordinary as a reward and motivator for surviving.

There was an elderly couple, probably in their late 70s, in front of me. It was no longer the pandemic but I was about 6 feet from them. They were conversing and I didn't mean to eavesdrop but they were speaking to each other with a tenderness that you rarely see anywhere. The husband asked his wife what he wanted and ordered it for her. When the barista asked what he wanted, he simply said, "oh nothing for me, thanks. This is a special treat for us to be able to enjoy and I'd like my wife to have it. I'm just so lucky I get to be out with her this afternoon, that's my treat. We've been together for 60 years this week! We didn't really get to celebrate so this is us celebrating." So I moved in closer and apologized for intruding, but told the man that I'd love to celebrate their 60th anniversary if he would let me and told him to choose his treat too (and I said it better not be just plain black coffee lol). His wife said that was like something their daughter would say and didn't think younger people even noticed "old timing geezers who slow everything down, which is why we rarely go out anymore."

Anyway, he protested, and I asked if he could accept it as something someone's daughter would do for someone's parents instead of as a stranger. As the universe sending congratulations for 60 years with the love of his life! He relented and both he and his wife got exactly what they wanted. I added my drink order and we all waited for our drinks. I got them seated at a table, we toasted with our drinks, I wished them many more moments of pure joy and days of good health and adventures, thanked them for letting me be a part of their celebration and showing the world some much needed visible love, and then I went off to face the rest of my day.

Getting to spend some time with such lovely people gave me much more than anything the barista could have whipped up. I was in line for something to fuel my body but ended up with my spirirt renewed instead. With hope that people do matter to each other. Love does last. Softness through the spirit is still present in the harshness of life. Old age doesn't mean only misery and poor health. And a pun to walk away with that I helped an older couple have a safe, public afternoon delight to celebrate their anniversary.