I find myself on the road quite a bit for work these days. Usually breakfast patrons are the “grab and go” type, especially this past year with Covid. This morning was no different with a couple dozen people; some masked some unmasked, hurrying, rushing around and self-absorbed in the moment. I soon noticed an unmasked elderly couple sitting; eating and talking with each other. They were finished with their meal and were content to sit drink their coffee and talk to each other. 20 minutes later, as I was leaving, somewhat rushing myself, I noticed the elderly couple was still there resting, talking. I walked past them heading back to the lobby and something inside me said, “go back and say hello.” I chose to listen and turned around and went back. I approached the table from the side so as not to startle them. As I was approaching, I was trying to quickly think of my opening statement to them, why I was just showing up at their table.  I obviously wasn’t quick enough because I just showed up and when they both looked up at me I just smiled and said, “Good Morning!” They both immediately smiled back and said good morning back to me. The way they said it though was what I’m still remembering. It was the look of gratefulness. It was the look of social graces. It was the feeling of politeness. It had the air of confidence. Then I said to them, “do you mind if I sit a minute with you?”  I paused, wondering, “do they think I am a psycho or is he scanning the room for the manager or exit signs.” Instead, the gentleman stood up from the table, put out his hand and introduced himself and his wife and said to me,  “please have a seat.” It was immediately obvious they were excited I was there. Being polite and making small talk, I asked them if they were visiting family or passing through. They actually lived nearby and were living in the hotel because their home was being remodeled. “We’ve been here 3 weeks,” the wife said. ” It’s been glorious having breakfast cooked for me and not having to do the dishes, having someone else make the bed and clean the space. I’ve never had so much free time in my whole life.” We all laughed and immediately we just began talking like we’ve been friends forever. Turns out they are 86/84 years old. After about 10 minutes of chatting, of which I found out they had been married for 40 years, have three children and seven grandchildren, one of which is 27 years old and considering being a pilot. I then asked them, “what was one of your most memorable life experiences?” The man spoke first and told me how he had always wanted to fly. As a young boy they had grown up poor and it was never a possibility. But at age 55 he was finally able to recognize his dream and get his small pilot’s license. His face beamed and his eyes were dancing as he was telling me the story and recounting other stories regarding his time in the airplane. I looked then to his wife and her eyes lit up and she exclaimed, “my first Elvis concert!!!!” Then for the next five minutes, we listened to her talk about the impact Elvis had in our country and in the hearts of thousands of young women at that time, and obviously hers. She even got her husband to go to one of his concerts and he admitted that Elvis put on a good show and he could understand why all the women were madly in love with him. And we all laughed at that statement.I glanced at my phone and noticed the time. Wow, 30 minutes had flown by. I realized I had to exit soon in order to be ready for work. I looked up at both of them and said, “it’s been a pleasure meeting you. Thank you for sharing your life stories with me and it’s just been fun sitting here with you two.” I noticed the wife’s face tensed up and her eyes grew watery. With a stammer in her voice and a tear slowly running down her face she reached out took my hand and said, “you’re an angel aren’t you. God sent you to me didn’t he? I prayed and you are here.” I was taken back and feeling awkward I tried to diffuse my shock with humor and I giggled and, while holding her hand I said, “no ma’am but I’m going to tell me wife that you said I’m an angel.” She then told me that it had been hard on them staying away from home and that no one in 3 weeks besides the housekeeper had talked to them. She explained how their spirits were very low and that despite a hotel full of people, they were lonely. So she prayed that God would send them someone to talk to. I smiled and then I told them why I really walked up to them, how I had heard the voice in my head and listened. She asked if she could hug me. After the hug her husband stood up, firmly grasped my hand and choking back the tears, thanked me for making their day. And I’m the one walking away feeling blessed. I’m thankful I can still hear that voice, I’m grateful that I have learned to listen, and I am blessed to have had such amazing parents who role modeled Grace, tenderness, and just being nice. And I hope that one day, I’ll get to have my “Elvis moment.” Oh, and their names were Byron and Katherine. Wherever you are, have a blessed day you two!