Maybe That's Enough

Susan and I aren’t sure how or when it happened. There was no announcement. No ceremony. No plaque. Not even a note in the mail.

It snuck up on us - something you sense rather than something you’re told. A glance we get as we walk down the street together, hand in hand. The smiles when we ride by on our tandem bike. The occasional whispered comment between a couple at the next table in a restaurant.

Somewhere along the way, we became “that nice old couple.”

What??? How did that happen? Who made that decision? Is there an appeal process?

But here we are. And, surprisingly, we’ve come to embrace it. We’re surrounded by a rich web of family and friends. We’re both winding down careers we love. And we’re blessed with enough good health, shared history, and common interests to appreciate this season of life more than ever.

We don’t take it for granted. We know many wonderful people who, for a variety of reasons, aren’t in the same position. That doesn’t make them any less happy, worthy, or interesting. It just reminds us how fortunate we are.

What we’ve noticed is this: time feels different now. More defined. Less abstract.

We’re not feeling any “bucket list” urgency, or the need to make up for lost time or chase missed experiences. We’re content to be in the moment - lingering a little longer, rushing a little less. Going out of our way to spend time together. Enjoying our families. Reconnecting with the many people we’ve met along the way.

Maybe that’s all it means to be “that nice old couple.”

And that’s enough for us.