I am assuming that they are a couple but for all I know they could be siblings. They are in their late 50s (maybe early 60s). Having breakfast at La Madeliene – late breakfast at 11am.

The funny thing is that another couple had sat at the same angle from me just a few minutes before this. A bit older too and they, the earlier couple, chose to have lunch – early lunch.

Something about the later couple made me want to write. Actually, they made me want to go up to them and talk to them. But I couldn’t. It was the way they, mostly the woman, was smiling. They seemed so at ease with each other. They weren’t even looking at each other. They both carried and prepared their own food. She put jam on her breads and he put butter. They both had coffee.

When the waiter later brought their plates – he had the sausage and eggs and she seemed to have ham slices and eggs. They were both very neat and organized in the way they ate. They cut small bite sized pieces and ate them. and all along they spoke very softly to each other. They weren’t exactly having a conversation. It was more like they were talking but not on any particular topic. At least not a single topic.

If they are a couple their kids are probably not living with them. If they are siblings, one is visiting the other.

Maybe this is what we want to hear said when we ask – what do you want to be when you grow up? Happy.