Saturday, March 03, 2007

embrace

I saw them at the corner of a busy intersection. A dark-haired man, in a blue business shirt, and a schoolboy in school uniform and hat. They caught my eye before I'd even reached the corner. The man was kneeling, smiling, with his arms wrapped around the boy, who in turn was tightly hugging back.

I was driving with the music turned up ridiculously loud, blasting my ears like a teenage hoon. I was buoyant - celebrating my escape from the clutches of domesticity, free of the demands of my children for an evening. And there they were, these two, child and man. My gaze was drawn to them, and I stared as I drove past; peered in the rear vision mirror when I had rounded the corner. They were still embracing.

As I continued, I wondered about the man - was he the boy's father? It had appeared so. I wondered what had prompted the hug. Was this a long-awaited reunion? Were they celebrating an achievement in the boy's life?

I was intrigued by their story, but something else about this scene had fascinated me. What had made me stare, and keep staring?

It was the kneeling. It was the fact that a grown man, dressed for work, at a busy intersection, cared so little what anyone else thought that he knelt and hugged his son. He couldn't care less if he attracted glances. He couldn't care less if the knees of his trousers got dirty. He didn't pat a shoulder, cuff the side of his boy's head, or simply smile. This man got down on his knees and gave his son his whole self. It was a beautiful sight.

13 comments:

thisisme said...

Thanks for sharing that with us Jelly - you've written it so vividly I can actually see it. I think we need more hugging like that in the world. Trite, but true.

Motherkitty said...

Now there's the type of man every woman wants to know and marry. Someone who will humble themselves just for love. What a great story.

I'm glad you didn't have an accident while you were so fascinated and looking in the rearview mirror as you were driving. (Wish I had seen it myself, but your telling us about the kneeling hug is the next best thing.)

rel said...

Jelly,
It's wonderful to see in real life, real people doing loving things because it is part of their nature. In this case all the right messages were sent to the viewer's eye as well as the receiver of the giving heart.
rel

Redneck Mommy said...

My daddy hugged me like that once. It is once of my best childhood memories.

Thanks for sharing the visual. It was a nice reminder of better days past...

meggie said...

Oh Jelly, thanks for sharing this so vividly!
What a wonderful sight, & feeling.

Alice said...

Oh dear, stories like this make me want to do back and be a better parent. Hindsight is so wonderful, and usually useless!

Thank you for this delightful interlude in an often hurried world. Trust you too to notice, wonder and then share with us all.

Have a wonderful week, Jelly.

Kerri said...

A wonderful description of a selfless act of love and devotion! Thank you Jelly for sharing that.
Ah that every child could have that kind of affection, and every parent could give it with such unselfconsciousness.
What a treat to see! I'm glad we got to see it too, through your words.

Michelle said...

Thanks Jelly - that was fantastic!! Yes we should all hug more and let other passers by notice and also feel the urge to hug so selflessly - you could soon have the whole world hugging Jelly!!!

TUFFENUF said...

I read this; then went right over to my son and gave him a long hug. I love that tall, skinny, geeky teenager! He hugged me back-that was the best part! Jelly, you make me smile!

Mackey said...

I loooove hugs!!!!!!
Thanks for sharing such a sweet story.
Gave me warm fuzzies:)

Heather said...

Beautiful . . .

Sandy Hatcher-Wallace said...

I hug my children as much as I can because I don't remember ever being hugged by my dad.
Wonderful story Jelly.

Lucy said...

That was beautiful, it reminded me of what I had read in a parenting book many moons ago. Get down on your childs level, view the world as they see it. When my kids were babies I did it for safety reasons, Crawl around and see if any dangers could be viewed at their angle. That fathers tenderness is so touching.