“Mountain Morning Memories” By Donna Lyons © 2022

By Marty Coffin Evans © 2019

The couple in front of us sat quietly side by side listening to the concert. Gently, she reached over and took his right hand in her left. No words were spoken but the tenderness shown spoke volumes.

A little time later, she carefully rubbed his shoulder, patted him on the knee and gave him a long look to be sure he was still okay. His response, nothing verbal just a quiet acceptance of her loving gestures.

What story existed here for this elderly pair? How did he come to be sitting in a wheel chair? What mental or physical conditions brought him and them to this point?

We’ll never know the answers. We only watched these tender moments of caring. We didn’t intervene in their sharing rather, just watched and smiled.

What a picture of love they portrayed. While I don’t remember any of the music played that evening in this charming chapel, observing the little scene in front of me remains.

Without their knowing it, this senior couple shared their own special world, quietly and  ever so tenderly. The focus of their care – each other. More accurately, her care and concern for him most likely with no thought about what others might see, wonder or say.

Had we been able to see their faces, what might they have shown? Did laughter lines reflect life’s happy moments? Did signs of sadness and fatigue overcome their countenance? Did they live lives of hardship or ease?

These wonderings must remain as just that – wonderings. Setting aside these questions, for a short period of time, we had the opportunity to observe this couple living out their vows – “in sickness and in health” combined with to “love, honor and cherish.”

Certainly, that should be enough for that musical evening.

February 2024