A Moment

Yesterday I received a real hug. You know what I mean. No, not the hug you give to your wife before she leaves for the day or the one you give your kids when they head off to school. More like the powerful hug that can only be amplified by emotions like fear or utter bliss. Fear of losing someone, or happiness that that you haven't lost someone.

Let me explain. My 98 year old grandmother went into the hospital the other night because she wasn't feeling well...again. This is not a rare occurrence since she has had a few episodes in the past year or so and every time she goes into the hospital they find nothing. Who knows what the body does at 98 years. Even the doctors seem to be perplexed. However, after a few days of "observation" she is released with new medication.

For 98 years old, my grandmother is in great shape. She still walks to the bus and goes out shopping for hours. She acts like a woman half her age and has the spirit to match. I am convinced that this is the key to her longevity.

The other night when I visited her at the hospital I gave her a hug when I entered the room. It's this hug that I want to mention here, because I'm realizing in life that we need to enjoy and embrace every moment that causes us raw emotion.

The hug was simple. A full, arms around each other hug where I could feel the warmth of her body and felt that I could feel her life essence grabbing me and reciprocating the emotion I was conveying. This is the hug that I would imagine you parents give to your kids after they almost get hit by a car crossing the street or after they show up after being "missing" for a period of time. A hug of relief. A hug full of love beyond description. Almost the same as the hug you give someone that you are glad to see after a a long absence, but without the fear of loss. In short, the type of hug that reminds you how fragile we all are.

If you're smiling right now then there is nothing else I need to write to explain myself...