This weekend at work was pretty busy, after all it is the last weekend to shop before Christmas (& Hanukkah - if you celebrate); however, there is one customer that I cannot get out of my mind. I don't know his name, but he was tall and handsome. He had beautiful, intelligent blue eyes; a real gentleman. You could tell he was a ladies man. He asked me for help finding blue suede shoes, (not an unusual request, I have been helping a surprising amount of men shop for their significant others in the last couple of weeks) I showed him a pair that were the perfect shade of blue, but they were platforms, but that just wouldn't due. His wife couldn't wear heels that high anymore. I asked if they had to be suede; he then explained, as his adult daughter approached, that on his first date with his wife he had ruined her blue suede heels.
This grandfather stood before me explaining that their romance started with a pair of blue suede shoes and I couldn't help but think of my grandparents. I miss them all so much, all of my grandparents have passed away, but this gentleman reminded me specifically of my Grandpa Delaney. He passed away when I was only 13 years old, but what an impression this man made on everyone who crossed his path. His face was the map of Ireland, his heart was tender and his temper was hot! He used to take us to the mall and church and on walks at the Watchung Reservation & Briant Park, he even took us to the Summit swim club (he never learned how to swim, but knew that we were like fish). He smoked a cigar and told us stories in-between bickering with my grand mom. He loved us all so much. God called him home at the same age my Pop is now (Wow, that just left a pit in my stomach).
I wish Bryan could've experienced how I grew up and the great memories that grandparents could bring. He never did & that makes me a little sad. My parents are still living, but they are not the greatest at providing great memories, or even coming close to the memories that I had with my grandparents, but in my opinion
no one could compare.
I found a beautiful, classy pair of blue suede pumps for this gentleman's bride. He didn't even look at the price, he didn't care. He said that they were perfect and asked if they came with a box of tissues. I have been wondering about this couple and her reaction to her gift. Little does this white haired gentleman know that it is he who gave me a gift as well; the gift of a warm heart and the realization that the ones that we love, but who have passed, are all around us and it is our jobs to keep their memories alive through stories and tradition.
