Most of us know that the things we experienced in life are the things that molded us into what we are today. This is the story of a young boy, me, and an elder couple that I met one summer day, by chance. It is the story of how they took me under wing, taught me many things, including what real love is.

It was the typical June day in northeast Oklahoma. The spring rains had been over for several weeks. It was late morning. There was a gentle breeze blowing and the temp was in the upper 80s already. It was going to be a hot, muggy day as usual. I was 10 years old.

Most of my neighborhood friends had already departed on their annual summer vacations with their families. I was bored to death. I eyed my favorite place to be on days like this. It was a huge cherry tree, located just down the street from my house. It was covered with the darkest, sweetest cherries you’ve ever tasted. As was usual for me, I climbed the tree up almost to the top and way out very near the end of my favorite limb. It was a very unbalanced position but worth the risk because this is where all the best cherries were found.

I was pulling away at the tiny branches and with each yank of my hand, I was rewarded with a handful of the delicious cherries. Having already filled my stomach and my shirt pockets, I had just removed my hat and was dumping a handful into it when this strong voice rang out below me, startling me, nearly causing me to fall out of the tree. This strange voice said, ‘what are you doing up there young man, you’re going to break the limbs on that tree. Then it will die and there will be no cherries to pick’. I looked down to see a very large, old man looking up at me.

I wondered where did this man come from? He doesn’t live here. I replied ‘Oh it’s okay we always climb up and pick the cherries’. The owner of the house lets us do it'. He quickly replied ‘I am the new owner of the house, now come down from there and we’ll talk about this’. I was shocked. Were we going to lose our cherry tree; the very tree that provided us with a tasty treat on these summer days, the tree that provided us a hiding place when we pulled a mischievous stunt on some unsuspecting soul? I sure hoped not but was more worried about being turned over to my stepfather by this new neighbor for climbing his cherry tree.

I slowly worked my way out of the cherry tree and down to the ground. I was taking my time because I was scared. This old man looked tough and I was still afraid I might be in trouble at home over this. As I slowly looked up and met eyes with this stranger, I noticed the friendly smile. Maybe he wasn’t going to be so bad after all. He introduced himself as Mr. Dotson and asked my name. I was thinking of telling him I was another of the neighborhood boys but decided he would eventually find out the truth so I said ‘hi Mr. Dotson, my name is John’. He reached across the fence to shake hands. I wasn’t sure whether to shake or not but finally did. His huge hand swallowed mine and surrounded it with a surprising gentleness I hadn't expected.

Mr. Dotson began by telling me he didn’t mind at all that we neighborhood boys picked the cherries. He said there is a right way and a wrong way to pick them and climbing the tree was the wrong way. He would find a way to do it so we didn’t climb the tree and break the limbs. He also would pay if I picked cherries for him and his wife so she could make jelly. I was excited. I would be able to enjoy the cherries after all and even make money while I was doing it. Life was going to be good.

He invited me to come around the house, into the yard and we would get some tools so I could continue picking cherries. We brought his ladder and a long wooden handled tool with a hook on the end of it. He taught me how to use the hooked tool to gently pluck the cherries off the limbs without doing much damage. When I had picked about half a bucket of cherries, he said ‘come on down now and let’s take a break from the heat’. I was beginning to get really hot and sticky and I needed a cold drink of water. I asked if I could get a drink of water from the hose and he said ‘sure, help yourself young man’.

As I was drinking and washing my face, an older lady came out of the house carrying a tray with three large glasses of iced tea and a platter of cookies. Mr. Dotson introduced her as his wife, Mrs. Dotson. We all sat on the patio drinking our tea and talking. Time slipped away faster than it ever seemed to in the past. As that summer day came to a close, I realized two very nice people had come into my life this day. Even at this young age, I had a feeling they would somehow play an important part in my life. I was just unsure what it would be.

I was back down the street early next morning ready to begin picking cherries before it got too hot. During a break in the work, I learned that Mr. and Mrs. Dotson were both 77 years old. He was a retired oil executive, she a retired teacher. They had been high school sweethearts and when Mr. Dotson said it, I saw his eyes meet hers. There was no mistaking the look they gave each other. The deep love and strong bond they shared could not be denied as they looked into each other’s eyes. You could see that these 2 people loved each other unconditionally and completely.

This was a look I would become very familiar with through years to come, as our friendship grew into a genuine love for each other; something akin to that of a parent/child love. Of course, now I recognize that look as one shared by two people totally devoted to each other in every way possible, and these 2 had been devoted to each other their whole lives.

Even for one as young as I, there was no mistaking the deep love these two people shared. Watching these two lovers stare at each other, eyes locked on one another was just amazing to me. Both with those loving smiles on their faces, oblivious to the rest of the world, it always filled my heart with such a feeling of joy unlike anything ever had. And, like nothing ever has since. I always dreamed of finding a love like these two shared, so pure and innocent looking and oh what a feeling it created in others around them.

I learned the Dotson's had 2 sons but rarely saw them now. They lived up north, all the way in Kansas City, and were busy raising their own families and making a living. I told them about my family and that I would be going to my Grandparent’s farm to help them out beginning next summer. My own grandparents were up in years and my granddad needed help working the 850 acres of farm. They needed lots of help and it was to be my important job to provide that help at 12 years old. It was an important task ahead for me.

And so it was the beginning of a new friendship, one that would last a lifetime, though I didn’t know it at the time. I felt an instant bond to these two elderly people. For reasons I didn’t understand, I was comfortable from the moment I’d shaken hands with Mr. Dotson. In the days, weeks and months to follow, this normally shy boy opened up with this couple like I never had with anyone else before in my life.

They rewarded my constant presence by sharing their vast knowledge. He inspired me by teaching me about vegetable gardening, which I enjoy to this day. They introduced me to a whole new view of the world through National Geographic and the Public Broadcasting Network. They taught me about the wildlife that I so dearly love and have enjoyed my whole life. They taught me many valuable and important lessons of life, even more than my own parents, because they had to work hard to support the 4 of us kids and keep up a house. The Dotsons taught me good values that I still possess today. I could never do enough to repay what they gave to me. I was thirsty for the knowledge they so freely shared. We spent countless hours together sharing stories, watching TV and just spending time together. I truly grew to love these two people like they were my own parents.

(to be continued)