today's moment of beauty

today i sat in my car in the pouring rain waiting for a friend i was meeting for coffee. i looked out my window and saw the blurry image of an elderly couple leaving the cafe next door, bundle up from head to toe in rain-proof clothing. they walked slowly and cautiously to their car, the man standing behind the woman, holding the one umbrella over her head, while he got soaked by the downpour. his eyes were looking downward, not watching his own feet but rather the slow steps of his wife, arms out next to her side, ready to catch her if she were to slip or fall.

they reached the curb and as she started to step down, they exchanged some words as the man moved around her and stepped down the curb himself before holding out his hand to help her down the step. all while keeping the umbrella over her head. he walked her around the car, opened her car door for her and held her hand as she climbed in. only after closing her door did he walk back around and get in the driver's side.

it took probably a good three minutes longer than if they would have walked separately to their respective sides of the car. the man probably got more drenched than he needed to have. it wasn't necessarily the easiest way to go about it.

but it was beautiful.