Bernie & Gloria

I stopped by 7/11 this morning and as I was pumping my gas and watching the amount I was paying to fill up approach $60…

…I caught the store insignia and my memory kicked in.

1974.

Over 50 years ago.

Largo, Florida.

Dad was doing a job there, and we were along for the ride. Six kids wreaking havoc in the sun.

Mom and Dad went out, leaving us with a baby-sitting couple.

Bernie was a laborer who worked for Dad. He had a booming laugh and he used that laugh a lot around us.

His girl, Gloria was also very pleasant.

After all these years we still talk about them, and perhaps it’s because they were a black couple.

They were cooler than anyone else who’d sat with us!

Back to 7/11.

Bernie walked us down there and paid for what we wanted.

I got 6 packs of baseball cards to get to the dollar gift headed my way.

As a kid…I was 9…I was amazed by the generosity of the gift.

Some 53 years later, I marvel at my ability to recall the gesture.

We thanked Bernie all the way home, and told Mom and Dad all about it when they got home.

I think of it a lot when I see a 7/11.

Bernie & Gloria.

Hoping they had great lives.