Blissful Couple

The 23rd street bus was empty on a Sat night. I was thankful for the air conditioning blasting above my head. I felt sweaty and my skin hot to the touch, but I had that exhilarating exhausted feeling one gets spending all day at the beach, at one with nature. Sand between my toes, warm humid air through my hair and face, the smell of salt wafting from the ocean, sweat trickling down my back. A delicious good book to read.

Some of the thoughts that went through my head: regrets for not keeping those smooth, shiny black and pearl white pebbles washing in from the tide, the kinds of things I usually collect from my travels to the beach. Capote's "In Cold Blood" - how Perry Smith exhibited such care and gentleness to some and wrath to others, blowing off the heads of a family of four in their sleep with a shot gun, with no motive or reason. Beautiful Nick with his penetrating blue eyes. The arguments. The regrets.

The bus stopped at 23rd and 3rd Ave, one block away from where I was to get off. An elderly couple, each with shiny white hair, waited to get on. The couple was at least 85 years old. The thin and frail man was in a wheelchair, in his white stripped t-shirt and white sneakers to match his hair. His wife, in her simple sun dress and thin gold wedding band standing, waiting patiently while the bus driver lowered the bus steps to let them on.

I was at first, slightly annoyed because I was tired after two hours of travel and wanted to get home. But to me, it became magical. Their interaction, their silent eye contact said a million words, like couples who have been together for so long that they can read each other's thoughts. I could not see him for his back was turned to me. But I saw her. I looked closely at the fine lines on her content face, her intense eyes, the love and acceptance that radiated through her being. One could only hope for such bliss. For the briefest moment, I imagined their long life as one; they must have been together longer than I have been alive. Life companions through thick and thin, with grand children or even great grandchildren to boast about. I could only wish for such a life. As I walked past her to get off the bus, she smiles at me, encouraging me, as if to say, everything will be alright. Isn't life grand? And woman to woman, I smiled back. Yes, life is grand, and everything will turn out just fine.