The Christmas Lunch

A few years ago, our office stopped having a regular Christmas party. We all agreed that finding an evening suitable for everyone, and dragging along our significant others, and the Christmas exchange was something we could all do without. There is enough to do this time of year. Instead, we have a Christmas lunch, enjoy one another's company and catch up on what is going on in all of our lives. We all work at the office on a part time basis, and sometimes touch base only a couple of times a year.

This year it was at a very nice place downtown. As we were all being seated, I noticed a large table of the Red Hat Ladies. They were all decked out in purple and red, and of course, each had on a red hat of some kind. Some even had on Santa hats, as after all, they are red! They all looked so cute. Each had a snowman in front of their place setting, wearing of course, a red hat. I was seated in a spot where I could watch the ladies having such a good time.

I could see in their eyes a youthfulness that was still there, even though it may have left their bodies some time ago. I wonder what adventures and stories each of them may have had. I bet some were quite the "looker" in their day. Some might have been athletic, or a savvy business woman, breaking barriers and paving the way for the young women of today. As they got up, some walked slowly, some had canes, some were just as spry as they could be, but all of them had dancing eyes.

I wondered after they left the restaurant where each of them might be going, and wondered if some were going home to their families, or were some going home to be lonely once again. Was that the highlight of their week or month, the meeting of the Red Hats?

Suddenly I was kind of sad.