People Watching
Old man, blank faced, gray, balding, bent back,
suspenders holding up loose pants, a half filled
plastic grocery bag hanging from one hand, a
wooden cane companion in the other, limps his
way slowly from the grocery store out to the
parking lot …towards his parked car.
People rushing, back and forth from cars to
store pushing filled and empty carts, using cell
phones, talking, gesturing, texting, hurrying past
him with abandon .
Another balding old man about the same age,
bulging middle, red faced, huffing, crooked visor cap,
chrome cane in hand, head bent low, limps along
slowly from… his car to the store.
People rushing back and forth from cars to store
pushing filled and empty carts using cell phones,
talking, gesturing, texting, hurrying past him with
abandon,
When both men reach a crossing point in their
opposing paths, they stop in mid step, slowly look
up and give each other the once over. As if on cue
they look around themselves at this parking lot full
of hustling, busy actors going about their important
affairs in so much of a hurry. .then turn and look back
into each other’s faces..…
One breaks into a smile that begins to brighten
his weathered face and then the other gent breaks
into a smile of his own to share. From within their
aging shells both spirits break out with child like,
hearty laughter while shaking their heads. They
continue on their journey limping away from each
other without a word, the smiles still embedded in
their brightened faces.
I too find myself smiling as I watch the scene
from my open car window while eating my lunch
as people are rushing back and forth from cars to
store pushing filled and empty carts, using cell
phones, talking, gesturing, texting, hurrying past
with abandon.
It’s time. I have to make a call
and hurry back to work now….
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