June 17, 2008

• What’s In a Hug

  A friend took Rosie and
  me to lunch today. We went to Lenny’s, a small pizzaria on Ormond Beach, owned
  by a big round guy named Lenny who hugs the stuffing out of you Italian-style
  when you come into his restaurant. Be prepared to get flour on your clothes,
  ’cause Lenny knows how to hug. He also knows how to make great pizza and the
  best garlic knots on the planet. I’m on a quest to duplicate them at home, but
  it’s probably going to take a lot of experimenting to come
  close.

  I was thinking today as we sat there surrounded by regulars and
  newcomers who’ve heard of the great little pizza place where you can watch them
  make your pizza and chat with the owner while he tosses your crust six feet into
  the air like a big floopy sombrero, I thought about how many people Lenny must
  have hugged over the years, and about how he doesn’t seem too concerned with
  what kind of people come through the door…if you come in, you’re special. He
  doesn’t seem too worried about anything but showing kindness to all who enter,
  and serving them amazing food.

   

  There isn’t a person among my readership I wouldn’t love to hug given the
  opportunity. You may like me a little, may even love me, and that makes my heart
  smile. You may have already decided you just aren’t going to like me no matter
  what, and that’s okay, too. I can still love you, still pray for you, and still
  wish for an opportunity to hug you–if not in person then virtually through our
  online correspondence. If you decide you’ll pass on the hugs, I’ll just shrug
  and smile and hug you in my heart.

  
  
  Shine On Through the Rain

  The aforementioned
  friend, John (lovingly nicknamed JP by me, his self-appointed big little sister)
  dropped us off at the curb this afternoon due to a pretty significant monsoon
  that hit while we were out. I stood there simultaneously thanking God for the
  rain and begging Him to spare JP should the lightning take a liking to the tip
  of his canopied lightning-rod as he dashed across the parking
  lot.

   

  As we were preparing to
  make our way back to the car, JP noticed a mom with what looked to be her
  daughter and granddaughter standing by the door looking helplessly in the
  direction of their rain-obscured vehicle. JP smiled and held his umbrella over
  them indicating he would be glad to help them to their car. They grinned back
  and moved amoeba-like across the parking lot murmuring about how nice his
  umbrella was, and how nice he was, and…then I couldn’t hear them any more
  because the rain was pounding the pavement again.

   

  Ten minutes and a few
  more umbrella escorts later, JP pulled his van up to the curb to pick us up. I
  just smiled at him and thought how lucky I am to have friends like him who care
  so much about people and don’t mind getting wet so someone else can stay dry. I
  was glad his 3YO son was there to see such an amazing example of a servant
  heart, and whispered a silent prayer that little Josh will grow up to be just
  like his dad.
  
  

  • 6:23 pm
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