Memory of a Brief Encounter

With excitement, and hearts beating with anticipation Five of us held hands...as if declaring, "We're in this together!"... We sped upwards,..into the clouds,...or so it seemed.... Enclosed in a silver capsule...like amateur astronauts, ... A steel and concrete world of modern, miraculous, and amazing engineering! Nervously, we looked at one another with the same wide eyed expressions. "We are such country bumpkins!...."Do we look it?" I laughingly asked my husband.... "Hey, kids ! We're almost there...can you believe it??" "We're almost to the top!!" A soft spoken gentleman, wearing a bushy, yet neatly trimmed, mustache, smiled and said to us...."Your first time, I can see?".. He wore a uniform, (our host, a guide, I supposed)....he had the kindest smile. "If you like,....I can point out places of interest for your children?"...he offered kindly. Our three children nodded in delight. Doors opened at last, and we stepped into a large room We made our way through the milling crowd, and found a spot for observation. Our mustached gentleman, chuckled when we gasped for air As we looked for the first time at the breathtaking views It was if we were looking down from the heavens... City lights had just turned on, and we knew what it was like to look upon the stars... Only, this time, they were below us...! A magnificent city spread out before our eyes... stunned, and speechless, we were breathless... Our new friend pointed out Ellis Island, the bridges, Statue of Liberty... "Oh yes", ....he said,...."over there, ....you can see almost into New Jersey" "And there,...that is Staten Island. "Do you see the ferry?" He charmed our young daughter, and impressed our sons with his knowledge.. Here we stood...on top of the world...inside this magnificent twin marvel.... Oh, dear God.....our innocence....who could know...? Oh, dear God....the significance .... one brief moment in time.... spent in the company of one kind gentleman who wore a friendly mustache We will never forget that day................or him................. Oh, dear God.... ~ Dedicated to a kind stranger.... ____________________________ In honor of New York City at Dusk