A Pleasant Coincidence

     Yesterday, after posting, "Act Your Age?" on this blog, my wife and I went to see the movie, Dunkirk (an excellent movie).  As we were standing in the ticket line, a gentleman in front of me turned and asked me if I was a veteran.  I told him I had served in the Army and was a veteran.  I asked if he was a veteran and he said he was a WWII veteran, having served in the Pacific Theater with the Navy.  His last duty station was in occupied Japan following the end of the war.

     We had a chance before the movie to further our conversation.  He said that he and his wife loved to travel and had taken 25 cruises.  Unfortunately, his wife died eight years ago.  Following her death, he decided that he wanted to take one last grand cruise.  So, he took a world cruise lasting over 100 days, all on the same cruise ship.  A couple of years later, having enjoyed the world cruise so much, he decided to take another one.  This one also lasting for over 100 days but going to different ports-of-call.

     He was an amateur photographer and took many photographs during the course of his many cruises.  I also like to take photographs so we talked about the "old" days of using film cameras and how we made the transition to digital photography.  We both agreed that digital photography made taking photographs so much easier.

    He said that he gave presentations to various civic groups and senior facilities about his varied travels and showed his photographs during his presentations.  His enthusiasm about his life and his activities was infectious.  He just made you feel good being in his presence.  Oh, and did I mention that he was 94 years young?

    He was the perfect example of what I was saying in my posting about acting your age.  He never once complained about any physical ailments that he might have had or expressed any remorse that he was now left to live alone following his wife's death.  He was too preoccupied with his zest for life.

     What a pleasant coincidence to meet this man who turned out to be the epitome of someone who had chosen to not act their age.  Our brief encounter with this man has given me a fond remembrance of someone who continues to take advantage of what life has to offer...at any age.