Lucky

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Sitting with Tim at the end of the night while the cat chases a laser pointer and pounces on toys… perfection.

When I first arrived home earlier, though, the house was empty, and I immediately went into search mode. Tim is almost always home before me, so I looked around for clues, texted, called, and got no response. His car was gone too. With the mystery of Missing Timothy still unfolding, I eventually left to go teach mahjong.

As it turns out, Tim had been at the gym with a friend, possibly the last place on earth I would have thought to look for him...but good for him!!

Tonight was the start of a brand-new beginner class, and it was packed with eager learners of all ages. The participants who struck me the most were an elderly couple who walked in together, cane in hand, and settled side by side at one of the tables. At first, I worried they might have trouble keeping up with the pace of the lesson, but I was pleasantly surprised. Their bodies may have shown signs of aging, but their minds were wonderfully sharp.

I found myself wondering how old they were because they looked much older than my mom, and she’s 86!

There was something deeply touching about seeing them there together, learning a new game side by side. At any age it would have been sweet, but at their age, whatever that may be, it felt inspiring. So many people slowly stop trying new things as they get older, but these two were still curious, engaged, and excited to learn.

I came home carrying the sweet image of that loving couple with me: sitting shoulder to shoulder, embracing new knowledge and new experiences together. I told Tim that I hoped we would someday be just like them, living long enough to grow old together while still holding onto that same zest for life.

Tim, of course, laughed and said we’d be exactly like that… except he’d probably stay home while I went out learning new games.

Oh, Tim.

Growing old is such a privilege, and growing old together is perhaps the greatest privilege of all. If we’re lucky enough to have that, then we’re as lucky as it gets. 

So we sat side by side, watching our basement cat slowly come out of her shell, enjoying the peace and harmony of our home and the love we share, a love I hope carries us gently through this lifetime together.

“The older I get, the more I realize that home is not a place — it’s the people beside you.” ~ anonymous