I planned on letting my previous post sit through the holiday season. I thought the greatest way to spread some holiday cheer would be a description of how much I do love the party and the beauty behind BUCK HUNTER. Then, I saw something. And realized that there was more I wanted to leave you all with…

For the month of December I’ve been volunteering at the hospital. I’ve yet to perform a brain surgery, but I am now an expert on hanging lights, putting together trees and displaying Christmas cards. I spent my last night of work putting away extra decorations, dusty ornaments without a home on trees already weighed down with sparkle and shine. I was no where close to being finished when I glanced up at the clock and saw them.

A frail woman in a wheelchair eyes closed, with hands dotted with liver spots- a constellation that crawled up past her wrists. An equally old man had pushed her wheelchair so that it was facing the windows that showed the night sky. He then sat down beside her in a peach hospital chair. He wore a threadbare blue sweater and brown pants. She wore a hospital gown.

He whispered to her and though I couldn’t hear what he said, his manner and tone reminded me of the gentle way a mother speaks to a child. With love. From love. Suddenly he pulled a comb from his pocket and began to carefully run it through her fine, silver locks. With all the concentration in the world he focused on untangling knots, parting her hair, running the comb right through to the ends before starting again, all the while whispering things I could not hear.

She never opened her eyes.

I’m not sure what it was that made me turn away with eyes filled to the brim with tears. Perhaps it was the way he looked at her with such reverence. Or maybe it was the way he tenderly patted her hand between combing. Or perhaps it was simply seeing what love looks like- the act of someone doing a daily task for someone else, without hesitation, restraint or a second thought when they could not perform the task for themselves.

At Christmastime it’s easy to be bogged down with what we want, what we buy, what we give, what we wish for. I’ve wished for my loved ones happiness, peace, a new year with good health. But after seeing that couple, I wish for everyone something more- I wish that you all have someone who will put you in front of a window even when you have your eyes closed. Who will comb your hair when you cannot. Who will pat your hand so gently it will feel like a breeze. Who will take extra precaution with knots and will whisper to you with a voice rich with love when you do not speak.

I wish that for all of you, this holiday season and for all the days after.

Happy Holidays.