OUR SINGING WAITRESS

This is the second in a series of articles I am writing about hugs. I have changed the names of people in this series to protect their privacy. Just in case you can't tell, I am a strong believer in the healing and comforting power of hugs.

It was our first overnight bus trip in over two years. I have a myriad of health problems and was testing the waters to see how I would hold up. On our way to Tucson, we stopped at Basha's Western Art Museum. There were over 1500 works of art to enjoy. I took fifty or sixty pictures with my digital camera. When we arrived at our hotel I checked my camera to see how many mega pixels were left. I pressed the wrong arrow on the camera. When I pressed the set button the camera reformatted the disk.

I felt so badly about losing all of the photos that I knew I couldn't rest. I walked down the street to another art museum and gallery. No photo taking was allowed. I wandered through it. When I arrived back at our hotel, Sharon had awakened. I told her about losing all of the photos and how badly I felt. She reminded me that we still had them in our heads and our hearts.

By early evening I was beginning to feel the strain of the trip. The final plan for the night was to have dinner and attend a country-western dinner show. I was beginning to wonder if I would be able to make it through the night.

We were seated as a group. The host explained how the dinner would proceed and gave a little history of the singing group. He told us that our waitresses would be with us shortly.

As he walked away, our waitress approached our table with a broad smile across her face,
"Hi, I'm Lois, and I'll be your waitress this evening."

I responded with, "Hi, I'm Don, this is my wife, Sharon and I will by your hugger tonight."

Her arms flew open and her eyes sparkled, "Oh, I LOVE HUGS!" She exclaimed.

A gentleman at our table commented that he didn't believe in hugging people you just met. I smiled and said, "Great, I'll take his hug, too." Another hug followed.

I usually hug waitresses and other staff when I meet them and when we are leaving. This turned out differently. Throughout the evening, when serving us, she stretched out her arms for more hugs. Lois was one of the most outgoing waitresses I ever met. Her smile was contagious. She also had a knack for idle banter.

About halfway through the musical program the spokesman announced that their singing waitress was going to sing for the group and a special friend. As our waitress flowed gracefully across the stage she threw me a kiss. I had not realized our waitress was also a singer. Her beautiful voice burst forth with “Help Me Make It ThroughThe Night.” She was dynamite!

Shortly after she sang, I felt her hand on my shoulder. As I turned to see who it was she smiled and said, "I sang that just for you, Sweetie." I thanked her and we shared another hug.

When the program was over I walked over and thanked her. We gave each other a parting hug. As Sharon and I turned to leave, she repeated, "I sang that just for you, Sweetiie." I believe we both realized that we had helped each other, "Make It Through The Night!"

Don E. Cunningham (Copyright 5/2/07)