Important Hours

I’m in Starbucks right now, after having written three more pages of my second book, and across the room is a little girl and a man sitting at a table. He is a little older, so he’s probably her grandfather, and they both have grande-sized drinks in front of them.

Since I’ve been here, I haven’t seen them speak. The Grandpa is staring at his iPhone and the girl is working on a computer and wearing headphones. And while this could be a situation which prompts me to bemoan this technological age that prevents everyone from talking or socializing or communicating in a real way, instead, it’s a nice scene.

I’ve seen this duo here many times, at that same table by the window, with their coffees and computer and iPhone. And the point is that they’re here, together. They aren’t sitting at home in separate rooms watching different TV shows. She isn’t with a babysitter while he’s out playing golf. They are here on a sunny afternoon, with hot drinks, on another outing together. No, they’re not talking, but he is showing that he has time for her. And time is important.

How much time do we devote to the people we love? All it takes is a little time to write a note, make a call, or just sit down together. What percentage of our lives is spent on things that matter?

I think that girl and her Grandpa have logged a lot of important hours. And it’s a comforting thing to see.