This morning I had to wake up at an ungodly hour.
5:15am.
The sun wasn't awake.
I struggled to think why I had to be.
But I had to go take care of a woman in a retirement home for a few hours.
So I got there by 6:30am.

We chatted.
Then she went to have her coffee and read her paper.
So I sat and quietly waited.
Observing all the people gathered to wait for breakfast to be served.
All the ladies were sitting in the room closest to the dining hall.
And the four gentlemen sat in the hall furthest away.
They looked around and sometimes I'd catch their eye and smile.
Real big.
And with that southern sparkle in their eye, they'd smile back.

Then breakfast was announced.
The mad dash began.
Lots of elderly ladies with their walkers hurried to be seated.
And as all this unfolded, I looked at the gentlemen.

And there they sat.
Grinning at the ladies in their rush.
And finally, when all the ladies were in the dining hall.
The gentlemen got up and made their move.
I love a good southern gentleman.
They know how to be the true meaning of "gentlemen".
And they have an uncanny sparkle about them in all their politeness.

When I went in to help my lady be seated, I looked around.
And there the four men sat, joking with the servers.
Laughing with one another.
And it was music to my ears in such a place.

I still don't think people should be up at that time in the morning.