As I entered the restaurant, I looked for the hostess accordingly I can request as to where the Shrine Association of Daytona Beach was meeting. I was the visitor dinner speaker with arrived near the beginning accordingly I can obtain set up with chat through the members.

When I asked a waitress for the location, she pointed at the hostess, who was helping an elderly man stride to the private dining room. She held his arm at the same time as he steadied himself through his cane in his supplementary hand. I wasn’t in a hurry accordingly I walked behind them at the same time as he shuffled along.

When I entered the dining room, I quickly headed to the podium with table that was provided for my books. When all was ready, I introduced myself to an attractive man who was sitting at the head table. He invited me to sit down at the finish of the table to his instant left. He said he was Program Director with was delighted to have me as the visitor speaker. He told me his name except the noise in the opportunity from association members conversing was reverberating off the walls, accordingly I can merely catch his earliest name - John.

I excused myself to circulate among the members by dinner started. I have a loud say except had to add to my volume to screaming plane accordingly the members can hear me. While chatting became impossible, I returned to the head table.

As I sat down, John picked up my left distribute with commented there was no wedding ring. When we discovered we both lost our spouses, Johns eyes lit up through anticipation. He shared a number of of his stories from when he was a race car driver with drove on the streets of Daytona Beach. He raced by the Daytona Speedway was built. He proudly told me that he was 85. At the same time as he was sharing his stories, he continued to grasp my hand, at the same time as I cupped my accurate ear through my supplementary distribute with leaned in closer to hear him. He was flirting through me with I didn’t intelligence in the least since he was fascinating with attentive. When the food arrived, John winked at me with give permission go of my distribute accordingly I can eat.

After dinner, there was a brief meeting. One of the topics was the anxiety that the association would fold but they didn’t obtain a number of younger members. The association was shrinking due to the demise of accordingly several elderly members. I knew following a long day with a packed stomach that I would be challenged to keep this senior crowd awake despite the information that I sprinkled my speech through humor.

As I talked, Johns face was animated. He nodded when he agreed through what I was saying, at the same time as others were nodding since they were asleep! When I speak, I always appear nearly the opportunity at the same time as briefly making eyeball contact through members of the audience. Except I was pulled back to John since of his enthusiastic response. When he removed his traditional red fez, I found myself looking down on thick, wavy, gunmetal gray hair. I gazed at this handsome man with thought, “No way is he 85. He doesn’t appear it with he has accordingly a good deal vitality!”

After the chatter I became involved in selling with signing books. I noticed that John was politely waiting awaiting I finished accordingly I can sign his copy last. I stood with reached out to shake his hand. John was a large man accordingly I was looking up at him. In one flat move, he old the handshake to haul me forward accordingly he can plant a kiss on my mouth. He stepped back triumphant, through a pleased grin on his face, at the same time as his eyes danced through merriment. You can practically hear him think, “This guy quiet has what it takes.” But he could, he would have kicked up his heels.

I thanked John for making the evening special. Of way I in addition was grinning from ear to ear greater than his daring action. He walked large at the same time as he took a few steps with reached for a cane lying on the next table. He turned with began to shuffle through the restaurant. At that minute I realized John was the “old” man I had followed into the private dining room. This time, although he was shuffling, his spirit was dancing with he stood taller.

How my perception had changed. I had felt sorry for the mature man who appreciated the helping distribute of the hostess. I thought what a shame it was that this man, who had on one occasion been packed of energy, had been reduced to needing aid now to walk. At this time as I looked at his retreating back, I felt respect, admiration with yes, a sigh in my heart. I was reminded to in no way judge a one by his cover. You in no way know what lies within. Was he shuffling or was he dancing?

Carol Welsh, M.S,. is the author of “Stop When You Distinguish Red.” She has greater than 25 years of experience as a speaker with is a recurrent visitor on chatter shows. Her Web site is http://www.stopred.com She can be contacted at carolwelsh@stopred.com