My cousin Harry died unexpectedly on Monday, and his funeral was going to be one week later in TenSleep. His hometown, my heart’s hometown. I was wanting to go to the funeral and had wrestled if taking time out of the office, flights, car rental and hotels could be justified from the budget. I wanted to be with family. It wasn’t going to be for him, but it was for me and for his/my family.
My wife encouraged me to go. Flight booked, car rental reserved, I coordinated plans with my brother who was going to drive up with his wife and son.
Wichita to Denver flight and then a 90 minute wait to board the flight to Casper.
I was setting at a table near my gate watching the teenagers in pilots costumes (how can they look so young??) walk by, with my iPad opened to HuntTalk when it happened…..
A “God wink”.
I first felt very soft and warm hands and forearms on my shoulders. And then I could feel slightly spiky hair on my cheek. Surprised but not startled, I turned towards the warm face touching my forehead and caught just a flash of smile. A man was coming over to redirect the youngster who had given me, a complete stranger, a hug, and he said in a warm soft voice, “he loves to give hugs”.
My mind flashed to my Downs Syndrome cousins, Harry’s cousins. DennyRay, Ralph, and Grace were all great huggers. Never had a bad day. Always knew that God loved them and made them to be a bringer of hugs.
I watched the youngster continue up the concourse with his dad following right behind. My hugger waved at a family of four, who lit up with smiles to see his huge smile. He veered to the right to get out of the way of an airline tram and waved at another family. Huge waves back at him. He turned around to look for his dad, and they walked around the corner arms around each others waist.
My wife encouraged me to go. Flight booked, car rental reserved, I coordinated plans with my brother who was going to drive up with his wife and son.
Wichita to Denver flight and then a 90 minute wait to board the flight to Casper.
I was setting at a table near my gate watching the teenagers in pilots costumes (how can they look so young??) walk by, with my iPad opened to HuntTalk when it happened…..
A “God wink”.
I first felt very soft and warm hands and forearms on my shoulders. And then I could feel slightly spiky hair on my cheek. Surprised but not startled, I turned towards the warm face touching my forehead and caught just a flash of smile. A man was coming over to redirect the youngster who had given me, a complete stranger, a hug, and he said in a warm soft voice, “he loves to give hugs”.
My mind flashed to my Downs Syndrome cousins, Harry’s cousins. DennyRay, Ralph, and Grace were all great huggers. Never had a bad day. Always knew that God loved them and made them to be a bringer of hugs.
I watched the youngster continue up the concourse with his dad following right behind. My hugger waved at a family of four, who lit up with smiles to see his huge smile. He veered to the right to get out of the way of an airline tram and waved at another family. Huge waves back at him. He turned around to look for his dad, and they walked around the corner arms around each others waist.
.
