And So I Did.

He was a stranger to me too, sitting at the head of the table in a wheelchair, next to my grandfather at the nursing home. He looked tired, too wise and weather to be upset. Someone said he was ninety-seven years old. He silently watched the feeble conversations unfold, between the nine people there that were not him. Maybe he was listening, maybe not.

Eyes sweeping, caught, with some hope for recognition, I saw him looking back.

"Hey-" The words caught me by so much surprise I nearly didn't hear them, "Keep smiling."