> The Real Thing > By Frankie Germany > > Cecile and I have been friends since college, for more > than thirty years. Although we have never lived closer > than 100 miles to each other, since we first met, our > friendship has remained constant. We have seen each other > through marriage, birth, divorce, the death of loved ones - > all those times when you really need a friend. > In celebration of our friendship and our fiftieth > birthday, Cecile and I took our first road trip together. > We drove from my home in Texas to California and back. > What a wonderful time we had! > The first day of our trip ended in Santa Fe, New > Mexico. After the long drive, we were quite tired, so we > decided to go to the restaurant near the hotel for dinner. > We were seated in a rather quiet part of the dining room > with only a few other patrons. We ordered our food and > settled back to recount our day. As we talked, I glanced > at the other people in the room. I noticed an attractive > elderly couple sitting a short distance away from us. The > gentleman was rather tall and athletic looking, with silver > hair and a tanned complexion. The lady seated beside him > was petite, well-dressed and lovely. What caught my > immediate attention was the look of adoration on the > woman's face. She sat, chin resting gently on her hands, > and stared into the face of the man as he talked. She > reminded me of a teenager in love! > I called Cecile's attention to the couple. As we > watched, he reached over to place a gentle kiss on her > cheek. She smiled. > "Now that's what I call real love!" I said with a > sigh. "I imagine they've been married for a long time. > They look so in love!" > "Or maybe," remarked Cecile, "they haven't been > together long. It could be they've just fallen in love." > "Well, whatever the case, it's obvious they care a > great deal for each other. They are in love." > Cecile and I watched surreptitiously and unashamedly > eavesdropped on their conversation. He was explaining to > her about a new business investment he was considering and > asking her opinion. She smiled and agreed with whatever he > said. When the waitress came to take their order, he > ordered for her, reminding her that the veal was her > favorite. He caressed her hand as he talked, and she > listened raptly to his every word. We were enthralled by > the poignant scene we were witnessing. > Then the scene changed. A perplexed look came over > the finely wrinkled but beautiful face. She looked at the > man and said in a sweet voice, "Do I know you? What is > this place? Where are we?" > "Now, sweetheart, you know me. I'm Ralph, your > husband. And we're in Santa Fe. We are going to see our > son in Missouri tomorrow. Don't you remember?" > "Oh, I'm not sure. I seem to have forgotten," she > said quietly. > "That's okay, sweetheart. You'll be all right. Just > eat your dinner, and we'll go and get some rest." He > reached over and caressed her cheek. "You sure do look > pretty tonight." > Tears coursed down our cheeks as Cecile and I looked > at each other. "We were right," she said quietly. "It is > the real thing. «:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«^i^MISSI ^i^«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§« Richiele Marie [email protected] (Missi) I disbelieved in reincarnation in my last life, too. »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«