The Best Little Hug

So after my stressful day, I was dressed up and driving to my Junior League meeting.  I was in a grumpy mood but figured it would be good to see friendly faces. As I am about to get on the highway, I get a phone call.  I rarely answer the phone in my car (don't worry- I only use speaker phone when I do).  I just don't like talking on the phone when I am driving.  Or ever really.  The older I get, the less enamored I am with phone chats.  But for whatever reason, I answered.  And my friend (a sorority sister- see- yet another reason to go Greek!) on the other end seemed upset.  She asked what I was doing and I told her I was headed north to a League meeting.  She said "oh."  We all know that means something is wrong.  That's universal speak for "I need to talk" or "I need your help."  I asked what was going on and she said her father, who had a lung transplant about a year or so ago, was having serious complication and being rushed by ambulance to ICU.  Her husband (they are not on good terms- read into that what you choose) was not answering his phone and she had no one to watch the baby.  She can't bring a baby to an ICU.  I turned my car around before she finished speaking.  I said I was on my way.  She said no, don't worry about it.  I said I would be right there.  What if this was his last night on earth and I could have helped her be by his side.  I show up to everything for the League.  I am not a superstar but I show up to all the requirements and most of the non-requirements and I co-chair a committee and this is my seventh year in the League and I can miss one little meeting. 

The thing is, God had a hand in me answering that phone call.  I don't know how to stress to you how rarely I will answer the phone while driving.  And when I saw who it was, I figured it was just to chitty chat or plan a lunch date.  So I would normally be even less inclined to talk while driving.  But He knew I needed to go.  Not just so my girlfriend could be with her father.  But because I really really needed something too.

When my girlfriend left the house, the baby started hysterically crying.  She's a year and half and had been at daycare all day.  She wanted her momma.  Not Auntie KK.  I don't blame her.  But while she was wailing, she wanted to be held.  She hugged me so tightly for about 15 minutes.  I tried a few times to put her down to play and she would cry again and insist I hug her tightly.  Her sweet little head nuzzled on my shoulder.

I had such a rotten day but I was more in shock than anything else.  I had not taken the time to really digest any of it all.  But in that quiet 15 minutes of hugging the baby time, I sort of let it all go.  I embraced the sweetest baby hug.  And shed a tear or two.  And then at about the same time, Ava and I felt worlds better.  We had hugged it out and were ready to play.  We ran around and chased the dog and dumped out every possible toy (hey- it's not my house-tehe) and had snacks (I ate goldfish and ice cream for dinner and didn't feel the least bit guilty!) and colored and played peek-a-boo and this little piggy goes to market (I could go on the road with my pab and tlpgtm skills!  She thought I was hilarious.) and read books.  I sang her to sleep.  In her crib (Something her parents have yet to accomplish and makes me seem like Mary Poppins to them.  Which cracks me up.  It's just because I am not the parent that I can feel OK about things like that.) 

Her father is doing better.  Or if you can call being transferred to Columbia in an ambulance, better.  But at least he is at a better facility to deal with his many complications.  And that's something, I suppose.  She knows he likely does not have very long.  Unfortunately, it is not any easier when you know that forever is closing in on you.

I know it was a big favor to my girlfriend, but it turned out to be such a blessing for me too. God knew I needed that long, sweet, magical baby hug. And all the giggles that followed. The day felt so me me me and it ended in a much better and bigger way.

But hey, God?  Big guy upstairs.  Mr. Man.  Lordy Lord.  It would be awesome if you made it possible for me to have those baby hugs all the time because the baby is mine forever.  Not her baby- my own baby- just to be clear I am not interested in stealing my friends' babies.  I'll let you work out those details though.  Oh and Bestie wants one too.  Right now in her belly, if you can swing it.  So yeah, that would be fantastic if you could figure that out.  We'd be super-de-duper appreciative.