THE HUGS
Not until I have been sick of fever and heavy flu for over two days, have I needed so badly a hug from another mankind. Having been couching in bed up to twenty-four hours, my body is totally out of strength and suffering a horrible backache. My consciousness has been following the tickling of the clock, wondering slowly in between the real noise of the rushing cars out side my window, and the illusive splashing of the waves against the giant metal ship shell, of a rough sea night…the memories of the people I met, the talks we had, the things we did, had over flooded my mind, pushing me up and down, like a baby sleeping in a cradle lost on waters, but rafting safely, as if it was blessed by God.
I met this middle aged American lady on my first contract with the cruise line. She was a tour leader taking care of her group of passengers on board for that particular cruise. She came quite often to my desk for information and administrative assistances. We had become friends. One day we talked about the necessity of touch for human beings, the communication and the expression of love between people.
I told her that I had been raised up in a family that hugs and words of love were never being missed. That I seldom experienced any difficulties to demand or receive hugs from my parents, or to tell them I love them since I was born, which sounded so incredible to some of my friends. But whenever I was away and alone, life became tougher due to the lack of touch, and the expression of love that I was used to. The other day she brought me a pin of a little teddy bear with a red heart, along with a small blue card, which was given to her a few years ago by someone else. She had kept the card with her wherever she went.
On the card there are a bear and a cat hugging each other on one side, and some words on the other side that says “This coupon is good for one free HUG redeemable from any human being!”
From the day she gave the card to me, I have been doing the same thing like her, keeping it with me wherever I go. It had helped me to open up myself as an individual to all the nice people around me; to bring the courage I need when deliver the message of care and love to each friend who came along the way; to get me closer to the pure humanity that everybody has the right to enjoy.
I am writing this note to all the friends of mine and to those I have not met, wanting you to share with me, with each other, the initiative of the little blue card, and the tender loving care that exists in each of your heart. |