As a cross country truck driver, and a
person that depends on certain events to
always have a margin of chance, I try to
live in the extreme present. Murphy's law,
if it can happen, it will, is the law of
survival.

Once in a while, when you least expect it,
something happens that throws your whole
world into a second by second picture.
It's a memory you will never forget.

All my days, I have read and heard people
try to explain, in words, the meaning of
love. It's a whole lot like trouble. You
are either in trouble, or you're not. It's
the very same thing about love. You know.
You're either in love or you're not in
love. No one can tell you. You just know.

On a return trip from Phoenix to El Paso,
I was very tired and sleepy. When I got
close to Tucson, I pulled into the Triple
"T" truck stop. A good meal would perk me
right up. I parked, shut down, and started
for the diner.

As I crossed the lobby, it happened. Three
people were coming though the double glass
doors, of the diner. There was a man about
forty, a lady about the same age, his wife?
and a much older man. This is the one that
got my attention.

He was so bent over at the waist, It was
amazing he could even stand. He was bent
so far, he had to throw his head all the
way back, just to see the floor. As the
younger man held the door, the old man
shuffled though.

Everyone in the lobby suddenly went to
alert. A strong feeling of shame mixed
with fear, had swept the lobby. It was
so strong, everyone looked away.

Standing so close and feeling so totally
helpless,all I could manage was a small
"Hello". He shuffled around sideways,
turned his head all the way to the left,
and in a very weak voice, said "Hi" The
younger couple was standing behind him,
heads hung low, as if wanting to go
unnoticed. There was no sound at all in
the lobby. No one moved.

Then the spell was broken. A tall gray
haired lady came in from the diner and
was explaining why she took so long. The
credit card thing was down and she had
to pay cash.

As she approached the old man, she seemed
to grow smaller. She bent all the way over
to his stance and took his offered hand
in hers. As her eyes came into his focus,
she asked,"you ok?". In a strong voice
he answered,"I am now".

Hand in hand, in his world, I watched as
they shuffled away.