After "signing in" he easily conversed with us, telling us that he was a regular, and that since his wife of 54 years had died a year ago, he stayed away from home escaping the void he felt walking into an empty home, by coming to the restaurant.
As we were called in at the same time he was, and escorted to our table (while he was directed to his against the wall), it only seemed fitting to invite him to join us.
What a wonderful decision that was!
It was evident he was lonely which he admitted.
He spoke with few pauses between his words, which he also acknowledged as he continued sharing.
In the beginning, it could have very easily been second-guessed by us as to whether or not the invite had been such a good idea, because in doing so we had given up "our time" together. But to see the joy in his eyes and feel the life in his words, gave no doubt it was not a chance opportunity nor a mistake.
It was apparent that the reason he was hurting so much was because he loved so much. As he spoke, the passion and deep love he had for his wife was palpable. With all the negativity in this world, it was refreshing to hear something not seen or heard very often anymore.
Mac was full of humor and history and stories that taught wisdom, business knowledge, enduring hardships, and what true love meant to him.
Mac was without a doubt, one in a million!
A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966
Don't marry the person you think you can live with; marry only the individual you think you can't live without. ~James C. Dobson
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