On the checkout line next to me at the market this afternoon was a nice-looking silver-haired couple. Each was wearing a navy blue t-shirt bearing the emblem of the New York City Fire Department over the heart. The shirts said "Engine 9, Chinatown." I noticed that both the man and the woman had genuine Big Apple accents. They were laughingly discussing the puny savings they have recently achieved using grocery store affinity cards.

When the gal nosed over to pick up something off the impulse-buy rack in my line, I couldn't resist saying something. "I like your shirts," I said. She pointed over at her partner and said, "Over there's the real deal." I gave him the thumbs-up and said, "Thanks."

He just quietly smiled.