A Sunday Stroll

As I pulled out of the driveway, I rolled ever so slowly down the street. Not something I normally do, but hey, it was Sunday. What was the rush? Besides, the slower I go, the more I see.

Just a few doors down, I saw an old couple standing outside their front door hanging a Christmas wreath and smiling at each other as they agreed on how straight it looked. Each with a coffee cup in hand. A little further down on the right, I watched a young man rake leaves into a pile so they weren’t covering his front lawn, driveway, and street. Towards the bottom of the street, on the left, I saw a woman putting kids dressed in holiday outfits,  into the SUV in her driveway. Off to take Christmas photos perhaps?

Who knows?

I could sit here and pretend that I know for certain the old couple that hung the Christmas wreath, were happy. But what if that was the first time they had smiled together in months? I could pretend that the kid raking up leaves was doing it because he enjoyed it, not because it was some form of punishment for not picking up his younger sister from Cheer practice. Just as there’s no way for certain to know that, on a Sunday afternoon, the kids jumped into their white SUV and were headed to grandma’s house for dinner, not to see their dad in jail. Obviously I don’t know.

Often times I pass through life so fast, I don’t notice things that perhaps I should. Things that might, make a difference. Would I have ever noticed that couple if I had been preoccupied with turning up the radio? Nope. Would have passed them by like they weren’t even there. I might have noticed the kid raking leaves, but more times than not, would have considered him to be “in my way” while trying to speed down the street.

I don’t know if it’s the approaching holiday season, or just the plain fact that people eventually do end up changing, but whatever it is, I accept it. I welcome it.

Time to slow down….

People watching is fun, if you don’t live with THIS woman

See this couple? They made the mistake of sitting near our table at lunch the other day. I am a huge people watcher, and when there’s a couple near me that’s fighting or causing a scene, I can’t help but stare. After all, if they didn’t want me watching, they shouldn’t be putting on a show.

This couple was in attendance at a wedding that had taken place just a bit before. I know this because when they were leaving, she said, “Let’s go. I don’t like any of the people that will be there, but let’s make an appearance.”

When this couple first sat down, she was in what appeared to be a real bad mood. Her arms were folded and she was just being crabby. She kept saying, “It’s too cold in here” or “It’s cold. I’m freezing”. Let me just say this first off. It was in the low 60’s yesterday, but inside the restaurant, it was not near as cold. I wasn’t even cold, if you can imagine that. Here’s how their first conversation went…

Her: I’m cold.

Him: I don’t know what to tell you.

Her: Give me the car keys.

Him: Okay. (He hands her the keys)

I don’t exactly know what was said by her here, but it clearly was more bitching because just then, she THREW THE KEYS AT HIM.

Him: He got up and left the table. (I figured he was going to the car, but secretly hoped he’d drive off while gone so she was miserable even more.)

The man comes back, with a leopard print blanket for her. She wraps it around her legs (seen in the picture above), and continues to complain about how cold it is.

The rest of the time they sat there, she continued to complain about one thing after another. When her drink was brought to the table, she took it back up to the bar and complained that it was too strong. The man eventually put his hand down on the table after listening to her complain for 20 minutes and said, “I don’t know what you want me to do.” She bitched some more, and then after they were finished with their drinks, she stood up and started to walk out. She stopped, turned around to him and stared as if she wanted to say how dare you leave me standing here on my own. Come on! But, she didn’t say it. She just glared at him with those evil eyes. She finally walked off, and he finished his drink alone.

After watching this entire event take place, I wanted to go over to the man and tell him how sorry I was that he had to deal with this person day in and day out. He took his last swig, stood up and straightened his jacket, took a deep breath, and left. I could feel the pain he was experiencing by looking at his face. This man was truly miserable.

I don’t know if they were married or not, as neither of them had wedding rings on, but this was clearly a couple that were not happy in their relationship and would definitely benefit from being apart.

I never, ever, ever, ever, want to be as miserable as this woman, and I don’t ever, ever, ever, want to make someone I profess to love, this unhappy.