A few weekends ago, after a full day of running errands, Derrick and I ended up at Outback Steakhouse for dinner. Hungry, tired and too impatient to wait a full hour for a table, we decided to try our luck at the bar. We snagged the last two seats available, next to an elderly couple who were halfway through their dinner. Derrick and I perused the menu and spent some time struggling over our decision (which we always do but usually when we're hungry we have a harder time making decisions). The elderly man sitting next to Derrick leaned over and recommended the pork chops.
"It's big enough to split and very tasty," he cackled amusingly.
I've become accustomed to seeing random strangers strike up a conversation with Derrick, and these days I'm never surprised when it happens. He possesses a warm, inviting energy which seems to make people feel at home and comfortable. We thanked the gentleman for his recommendation.
Later, after the couple had finished their meal and the man's wife stepped away to use the restroom, the elderly man leaned over to Derrick again.
"Great place to celebrate a birthday. It's my 69th birthday today"
Derrick congratulated him and wished him a happy birthday. The man continued to talk. He, again, mentioned what a nice place Outback Steakhouse was, discussed some financial decisions he needed to make at his age, revealed that his wife is 10 years his junior and how he would need to make provisions for her. He talked about some places he's traveled to and things he's seen. It was an interesting moment. Not that Derrick or I had anything to gain from listening as attentively as we did aside from our general interest in the conversation. He didn't have any advice that was particular to us. For some reason, however, we were both enraptured. There was something very poignant about the things this man, in the winter of his life, chose to reveal to two strangers at an Outback Steakhouse. It wasn't about his 40 plus hours a week spent working at XYZ office. In fact, we never even heard what type of work he did, the type of car he drove around in, where he lived, the glory days of his youth.
"Seychelle Islands ... spelled S-E-Y-C-H-E-L-L-E. The most beautiful islands you'll ever see. More beautiful than Fiji or the Maldives. You should see it sometime"
This is where we'd like to go for our honeymoon.