2 wonderful encounters with seniors

Visions of getting old are often less than thrilling.  But in the last few days I have met some people who  break that mold.

With my wife we attended her aunts 92nd birthday party, also there in the same facility lives the aunts 94 year old sister and 87 year old brother.  The uncle is pretty sharp still, the two aunts are pretty much out of it with lots of issues.  However, at the party were three women who with the birthday girl have been friends since high school, one 96, 90 and 88.  These three didn't look their age, they were vocal, engaging, smart, fast talkers, up on current events, explained in detail how to make a pie, told jokes, they had a great time and entertained everyone, finally got up and walked out into the hall where they had walkers parked, didn't seem that they really needed them though.  I would expect the three of them will be at the funerals of my wifes aunts and uncle, I don't think they have an off switch.

Last night we went to a Cuban bistro.  The weather was good for setting outside.  When we got our food an old man came out wearing a full cut short sleeve white collared summer shirt, he had a little cup of coffee, and set at the next table.  I said hi, and all hell broke loose.  "I'm Cuba from 1969, happy fathers day to you, I am 85."  He was really hard to understand but the race was on and he was determined to make a friend.  In the next half hour we shook hands about 5 times, he bought me a coffee, showed me his New Jersey drivers license, his baseball card, he had been a professional player in Cuba (at what level I have no idea).  He spoke terrible english so much is missed.  His son owns the restaurant.  He had some kind of ID card identifying him as a baseball recruiter of a sporting organization in Florida.  The guy was so nice, I think he could understand everything I said to him, but I could understand little of what he said, but on a non-verbal level we were making it.  It was great fun. When we were leaving he had gone inside, I went in to shake his hand and he almost tackled me with a hug and happy wishes.  The owner was beaming with pride for his father, I ask the owner how long will his father stay (he said he was from New Jersey), forever I hope, I want him to stay forever.  Pretty damn lively for 85, it was great to meet this guy.  I will be back over there in a few days for another Cuban coffee, that was a really good coffee, I wonder how they make it.