Table For One

I watched a news story a few weeks ago which captivated my attention regarding an elderly widow who would go to a favorite restaurant by herself.  Part of the story was how she felt connected to her deceased husband, by returning to some of their favorite places they would go and share time or a meal together at.  However, on one particular occasion when she showed up for dinner and was seated after asking for a table for one, she was observed by a group of young men nearby.  An interesting twist to this story was that it took place in the south, the elderly woman was white and the group of young men who were sitting near her happened to be black.  One of the young men in the group saw this lady sitting by herself and told his friends that he did not like to see people eat alone, as he felt everyone should have the opportunity to eat with others and make friendly conversation.  The three friends went to the lady's table and asked if they could sit with her and when she said yes, they proceeded to have a wonderful meal as they got to know each other in this unexpected manner.  At the end of the story, the young men stated that they felt a connection to her and as a result they became friends who regularly met for meals and to catch up with each other.  They also mentioned how they felt she was like a grandmother to them all and when they spoke to the lady at the end of the segment, she also indicated that she felt as if she was meant to meet these boys, whom she too considered to be more like her own grandchildren as well.  I always like to hear a good story about human connection and this was added to my list of favorites upon its conclusion.  It also made me wonder about the many people in this world who get to a point in their lives when they may be alone due to their age or perhaps no longer have an immediate family member or friend.  As I thought more about the story, I felt the question being posed at the end was would we be as gracious as the three young men when faced with a similar situation and be willing to do the same as they did?  For the most part, I think our world is spinning at such a rapid pace, that in many cases when we are at a public venue we almost don't look at each other in the eye, because we are so busy looking at our phones and fail to connect to others who could have had shared a moment with us, if we took the time.  This was also a reminder for me to be more observant of those around me and when presented with an opportunity, perhaps I should make the first move in greeting someone or even offering to sit with those who may be looking for some company.  I also have to say that I commend the mothers of those three young men, who raised their children in such a way that not only were they well mannered and respectful, they were also taught to look out for the elderly who perhaps need some assistance, even if it was to have a conversation so that they felt the universal love for one another.  As we arrive at this Mother's Day weekend, I celebrate the many wonderful mothers in this world who instilled in their children such moral values that will live on as part of their great legacy.  Cheers to all of the Mom's, Grandmom's and the Mom like figures which played a great part in making us who we are today! 🌹❤