Tuesday morning was quiet. Nothing much was going on, and things went a little slower than usual. Just as Harold wanted it.
Harold was 83 years old. He still wanted to keep his hair clean, read the newspaper the old-fashioned way, and didn’t think coffee counted until it came from his beloved percolator. He sat in his favorite recliner by the window, which creaked every time he leaned back. He could hear someone mowing their grass in the distance, and outside, youngsters from the neighborhood were riding their bikes up and down the street.
His wife Edith sat across from him, rocking in her chair and knitting a scarf she had started months ago when spring began. They didn’t need to converse all the time after being married for 57 years. The silence between them was pleasant, like an old friend.
Then, all of a sudden, Harold got up.
He walked cautiously to the coat rack near the entrance door and started to put on his coat.
Edith stopped knitting and glanced up in shock.
“Harold, where are you going?” she said.
As he put on his coat, Harold made a tiny grunt.
He said, “I’m going to the doctor.”
That made her sit up straighter.
“Who is the doctor?” she asked. “Why? Are you okay?
Harold shrugged a little. “I’m okay. I really want to know more about the new Viagra tablets that are always on TV.
Edith blinked.
At first, she didn’t say anything. She sat still for a time to let his words sink in.
Then she got up from her chair and put down her knitting without saying a word. She strolled up to the coat rack, put on her sweater, and took her purse.
Harold looked over, not sure what to think.
“Where are you going now?”
Edith looked him right in the eye, just like she had for more than 50 years.
“Well,” she murmured as she fixed the strap on her purse, “if you’re going to use that old thing again…”
I’m going to get a vaccine for tetanus.
For a moment, the room was quiet.
Then Harold started to laugh, a deep, powerful chuckle that boomed down the hall. Edith tried to keep a straight face, but she couldn’t do it for long. She laughed too, and she leaned against the wall to keep her balance.
For a moment, it felt like time had gone back. They weren’t two folks in their 80s; they were just Harold and Edith again. A couple who still understood how to tease, joke, and keep the spark alive with a little humor and a lot of love.
That afternoon, they didn’t go to the doctor after all.
They made tea, shared a piece of pie, and sat on the porch to watch the sun go down.
Because getting older together isn’t only about going to the doctor and getting checks.
Sometimes, it’s about knowing when to laugh.
When to say something funny.
And knowing deep down that you’re still in it together after all these years.
