A world of invitation

Sitting in Books and Company in Prince George. An older man is sitting in the window seat drinking tea and reading. Another comes up to him with a cup of coffee and points at the chessboard.
“Hello Joe,” he says. “Want a game?”

“Oh hello,” says Joe, looking up. “I’d love a game.”

There is warmth in the rhythm and cadence of the exchange, these two men at 5:00 in the afternoon, wanting to pass the time of day in each other’s company. Such an affectionate exchange, from two men who clearly have the hardest days of their lives behind them, who have discovered and embraced chance encouters with friends in coffee shops and spontaneous games of chess.

This is the purest practice of invitation. An honest gesture, reaching out and an honest embrace of the intention and willing ness to enagage, held so elegantly in the simplcity of two lines of dialogue.
This is the world I want a part of. Old men, friendship, invitation and play.