| As I entered the restaurant, I looked for the hostess | | | | members. I knew after a long day and a full stomach |
| so I could inquire as to where the Shrine Club of | | | | that I would be challenged to keep this senior crowd |
| Daytona Beach was meeting. I was the guest dinner | | | | awake despite the fact that I sprinkled my speech |
| speaker and arrived early so I could get set up and | | | | with humor. |
| chat with the members. | | | | As I talked, John's face was animated. He nodded |
| When I asked a waitress for the location, she | | | | when he agreed with what I was saying, while |
| pointed at the hostess, who was helping an elderly | | | | others were nodding because they were asleep! |
| man walk to the private dining room. She held his arm | | | | When I speak, I always look around the room while |
| while he steadied himself with his cane in his other | | | | briefly making eye contact with members of the |
| hand. I wasn't in a hurry so I walked behind them | | | | audience. But I was pulled back to John because of |
| while he shuffled along. | | | | his enthusiastic response. When he removed his |
| When I entered the dining room, I quickly headed to | | | | traditional red fez, I found myself looking down on |
| the podium and table that was provided for my | | | | thick, wavy, gunmetal gray hair. I gazed at this |
| books. When everything was ready, I introduced | | | | handsome man and thought, "No way is he 85. He |
| myself to an attractive man who was sitting at the | | | | doesn't look it and he has so much vitality!" |
| head table. He invited me to sit at the end of the | | | | After the talk I became involved in selling and signing |
| table to his immediate left. He said he was Program | | | | books. I noticed that John was politely waiting until I |
| Director and was delighted to have me as the guest | | | | finished so I could sign his copy last. I stood and |
| speaker. He told me his name but the noise in the | | | | reached out to shake his hand. John was a tall man |
| room from club members conversing was | | | | so I was looking up at him. In one smooth move, he |
| reverberating off the walls, so I could only catch his | | | | used the handshake to pull me forward so he could |
| first name - John. | | | | plant a kiss on my mouth. He stepped back |
| I excused myself to circulate among the members | | | | triumphant, with a pleased grin on his face, while his |
| before dinner started. I have a loud voice but had to | | | | eyes danced with merriment. You could practically |
| increase my volume to screaming level so the | | | | hear him think, "This guy still has what it takes." If he |
| members could hear me. Since chatting became | | | | could, he would have kicked up his heels. |
| impossible, I returned to the head table. | | | | I thanked John for making the evening special. Of |
| As I sat down, John picked up my left hand and | | | | course I too was grinning from ear to ear over his |
| commented there was no wedding ring. When we | | | | daring action. He walked tall while he took a few |
| discovered we both lost our spouses, John's eyes lit | | | | steps and reached for a cane lying on the next table. |
| up with anticipation. He shared some of his stories | | | | He turned and began to shuffle through the |
| from when he was a race car driver and drove on | | | | restaurant. At that moment I realized John was the |
| the streets of Daytona Beach. He raced before the | | | | "old" man I had followed into the private dining room. |
| Daytona Speedway was built. He proudly told me | | | | This time, although he was shuffling, his soul was |
| that he was 85. While he was sharing his stories, he | | | | dancing and he stood taller. |
| continued to hold my hand, while I cupped my right | | | | How my perception had changed. I had felt sorry for |
| ear with my other hand and leaned in closer to hear | | | | the old man who appreciated the helping hand of the |
| him. He was flirting with me and I didn't mind in the | | | | hostess. I thought what a shame it was that this |
| least because he was fascinating and attentive. When | | | | man, who had once been full of energy, had been |
| the food arrived, John winked at me and let go of | | | | reduced to needing help just to walk. Now as I |
| my hand so I could eat. | | | | looked at his retreating back, I felt respect, |
| After dinner, there was a brief meeting. One of the | | | | admiration and yes, a sigh in my heart. I was |
| topics was the concern that the club would fold if | | | | reminded to never judge a person by his cover. You |
| they didn't get some younger members. The club | | | | never know what lies within. Was he shuffling or was |
| was shrinking due to the demise of so many elderly | | | | he dancing? |