Cupid’s arrow struck in a place one would never expect— the Eufaula Senior Center where sexagenarians, septuagenarians, and a few nonagenarians have lunch Monday through Friday.
Vera Patterson, 86, a lifelong Eufaulan who knows almost everyone in town, had never met Truman Clark, 85, until they met at the senior center. Truman sat at table two with a female neighbor and a male friend, and Vera sat at table six with three ladies.
In the unspoken tradition of the senior center, everyone remained loyal to their usual table. After all, switching tables might mean an unfair advantage when it came to whose group got called first to pick up their trays!
No problem! Plenty of time before and after the meal to chat with whomever you choose. And so it was that around last October, Truman started dropping by Vera’s table after the meal.
Gentleman that he is, he’d wait until she’d finished and take her tray for the cleanup required before leaving it for the kitchen staff.
Gentleman that he is, he’d also take and clean up the trays of the other women at Vera’s table.
One of Vera’s three lunch ladies smiled and told her, “This guy’s got his eyes on you, girl,” and she smiled shyly and said, “You think so?”
But her daily attire, which was always neat and coordinated, slowly became even more polished. Elegant earrings exactly matching a tastefully chosen top— an outfit suitable for more than just an ordinary lunch at the senior center.
Her beautiful gray hair, always well kept, now seemed arranged with extra care, And when Truman stopped by, Vera’s sparkling eyes focused right on him, as if no one else in the room existed.
This budding love story in the making was sealed with a kiss on Monday, February 3, when the two said “I do” just moments after getting a marriage license at the Muskogee County Court House.
On Tuesday, Vera shared the good news with a lady lunch companion who conspired with the senior center nutritionist director Carolyn Crabtree to plan a surprise for the newlyweds’ first day back.
When I, Lenore Bechtel, told our diners we had a special couple with us and introduced them as Mr. And Mrs. Clark, the crowd went wild.
Carolyn presented them with a special cake, which quickly became the group’s second dessert. What an occasion!
So, what are we to conclude from this special Valentine story?
Let’s see! Love has no expiration date! Cupid never retired! And the senior center can spark more than just friendship— it lit the flame of love.
