Christmas in June

I had a client meeting with a sweet old couple today.  This couple is amazing.  They are both 90 years old; they're both Norwegian by descent, but were both born in Devil's Lake, North Dakota; they have epic senses of humor; and perhaps my favorite thing about them: they're both rather forgetful.

It was hilarious, because Doris (born in November, 1921!!) loves to joke around, but forgets which jokes she's already told.  She must have told Hugo (March, 1922) seven separate times that "it's easier to write with the other hand."  You see, he's left-handed.  Every time she told her joke she looked at me with that gleam in her eye and waited for my laugh.  I heartily complied every time.

I can't be sure, but I think Hugo's memory is better than Doris's which is a testament to his love for her.  He patiently smiled every time she would repeat a story or question and he never interrupted her.  I guess when you've been married nearly 70 years you learn a thing or two about marriage.  Even the charming click of her false teeth when she spoke couldn't derail his love.

Just when I was about to wrap up my meeting with this lovely couple, Doris had one last surprise for me.  She had brought in a book with her called The Legend of the Christmas Prayer by Brian Morgan. http://www.amazon.com/Legend-Christmas-Prayer-Brian-Morgan/dp/0849996651  She opened it up to the first page and showed me that it had been kindly given to them by someone who signed it as "a friend".  She wanted to know if we had given it to them.  It is very dear to her and it bothers her not to know who to thank for it.  I began to tell her that it wasn't from us, but before I could complete my thought, she interrupted me and began reading it aloud.  By the time she was done she had skipped around and reread about 15 different pages to me multiple times (often interrupting herself to say, "He's thinking I shouldn't waste your time with this, but you want to hear it!" as she nodded slyly at Hugo).  The funny thing is that she knew she was repeating sections.  I know this because she said, "I know I've read this before, but I want to make sure you remember it."  Well, one thing is for certain: even if I don't remember the specific passage of The Legend of the Christmas Prayer (which I do), I'll always remember this wonderful couple.