You may remember the blog about the hug. I've had more hugs, recently, in the form of other things, umbrellas, emergency exits, water bottles and figs. I'm re-reading, editing and realizing that I am coming up with more and more that I could add here. Ways in which I have shared with people, connected and hugged. This isn't meant to be warm and fuzzy, just know that this is about connecting, my connections, my proverbial hugs and a hope that I can inspire you to hug too.

Here's a story: I went to New York not so long ago. Apparently after only two months back in Southern California, 6 years of chilly San Francisco all-weather preparedness was unabashedly erased; I went to the East Coast with shorts, in October. Now, I had pants, a sweater or two, and a light hooded jacket, but nothing that would prepare me for the  downpour New York shared with me unexpectedly one day. I had no umbrella, and the Big Apple is a walking city folks.

I ducked into a small shop just near my metro stop, knowing full well they were not selling what I was looking to buy. Upon opening the door I was greeted with the delightful smell of something deliciously Dominican, and somehow thought it reasonable still to ask if they, by chance, sold umbrellas... To my utter shock, and appreciation, the man behind the counter, without batting an eye, handed me his, "bring it back later, if you think of it."

Now, I love the rain, i don't have a finicky, no water hair policy, it was not terribly cold and wet, just wet, and I was about to hop on the train... but I wanted an umbrella, I asked to buy one, and was given one, as a gesture and a favor, by a stranger because he cared.

I carried that umbrella around all day, I loved it, forgot it, ran back for it, stuffed it, swung it, pointed with it (of course), kept myself dry with it, and at the end of the day, I brought it back. I went to the shop looking for my new friend, feeling ever-so pleased that he and I could depend on the kindness of strangers, together... He was not there. There was however an older lady speaking ZERO English there instead. The exchange was as follows:

Me: (grinning) hello, there was a man this morning he lent me this (proudly presenting the umbrella)

She: (Smiling, shakes head)

Me: (turning to my friend who speaks some Spanish... and getting no help!) ummm... hombre? en la manana?

She: Oh! Si! Hombre! 

Me: (grinning again, umbrella up) Si!?! Si! Hombre en la manana!

She, me, people in line behind me, and useless not so Spanish speaking friend: (grinning, laughing, happy)

Me: Thank you so, so much! Hombre en la manana, gracias! Thank you! Gracias (returning umbrella, residual Judo etiquette compelling me to bow for some reason, nodding, smiling) gracias, thank you! Hombre en la manana!

fin.

It was beautiful.

On the flight home from Washington, DC, I talked - the

entire

time - with a complete stranger. We talked about life, the world the good and bad of humanity, our role in the emergency evacuation procedure and Patrick Swayze. I'm obviously not going to share the entire five-hour convo with you all here, you can ask me about it if you so desire, but it was good. It was really good and it was important because on a crowded plane, this stranger and I opened up a little, and we connected.

I need these hugs. The umbrellas and water bottles and conversations and well, hugs. I need them and I am open and hoping they will come my way and every so often, just when I least expect it they do, and that is something good.