Monday, February 4, 2008

A hug and the dark ball, solo

Monday, February 4.  Today was a fun day.  Started out with Motor Meals at 11:30 this morning.  Motor Meals is a non-profit organization that I've been helping out with since December.  We deliver meals to the elderly, sick, and otherwise incapacitated around Ann Arbor.  It's probably the fourth or fifth time I've filled in.

It's pretty sobering to see some of the folks.  Some just have a tough time getting around, some are truly ill, tied to their apartments by oxygen or obesity.  I get the feeling with some of them that I might be the only person they see or talk to all day.  Some give off the vibe of being a little bit forgotten, so it's a good feeling to do something nice for them.

I usually ask each person on the route if there is anything else I can do for them while I'm there, and usually the response is no.  But today, I actually got a request from Margaret, who I had never met.  When I asked her if she needed anything else, she said with a sad face and tears welling up in her eyes, "Can you give me a hug?"  It broke my heart and of course I agreed and hugged her.  Sometimes that's all you need!

My other never before done experience was to go bowling by myself.  Bored of late night tv by myself, I decided I was going to do something (besides go to Banfield's).  Ryan, who by the way lives in my basement (you may have been wondering why I hang out with him so much), didn't feel like going, so off I went to Belmark Lanes.

Now there was a risk of some nostalgia, as one of Paula and I's winter activities was to go to Belmark on dollar bowling nights.  Scott would usually come (he can't because he's in California now), and sometimes Elliot.  But it ended up being fun, and I found that without partners, I just focused on bowling and how to get better.  Not bad for my first time out.  I bowled 5 games (which I'm sure to feel tomorrow!) and bowled a worst of 149 and a best of 171.  At least my average is getting better!

So there you go, two things today I'd never done.  Maybe more importantly, it was a good day.  Maybe the two are related, as I suspected.  Until tomorrow friends!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hi Tom,

I cried when you said Margaret asked you to give her a hug .. and I'm still have tearly eyes while writing this. What came to my mind was, it wasn't her only who needed that hug !

Next time you see her, give her a hug for me, ok?

Love,
NaNa