Hugs and Kisses

I miss the friendly kiss on the cheek that greeted us multiple times a day in Argentina.  It is a lovely custom and a beautiful way to welcome not just friends and family, but everyone encountered.  It is sublime and warm compared to our American handshakes which can be a limp noodle or ridged board and often lack eye contact.  

One of the things I love about Americans is our strong hugs.  We don't share them with the world as Argentinian's share kisses, but we share them with many.   

Coming back to a love full of embraces was a beautiful gift.  Arms wrapped long and strong.  When Bridget picked us up from the airport our rocking squeeze caught the attention of the lady next to us, and even she had a few tears in her eyes.  

Meeting up with our Seattle crew on Saturday night was a blast.  Hug after hug after hug of love.  After all of the trauma it was the first time to see so many friends.  The genuine concern was palpabale, yet I felt normal and healthy and strong.  When my head is half shaved, and I am sporting a huge semicircle of a worm shaped scar in a few weeks, I'll feel the part of the weak.  The party is not over!  

Adam and I savored another wonderful reunion over a two hour breakfast with Fr. Bryan from St. Ben's, our regular parish.  Fr. Bryan is my priest and friend.  We are the same age, both love fitness, food, wine, and Catholicism, so it is a good mix.  Despite the fact that our clothes were packed up and he would be wearing a Messi jersey, Fr. Bryan invited Caleb Antonio to have his First Holy Communion the following morning during mass.  Antonio was thrilled, and our welcome back to the parish was another opportunity to enjoy a mountain of embraces.  

Unlike the Southern Hemisphere kisses, the hugs aren't always appropriate.  There is a line.  I really wanted to embrace my primary care physician to thank him for all of his help in setting me up with specialists and responding to my emails so quickly, and even though he is young and chill, I respected the line.  We stuck to the handshake and a big smile, and we both enjoyed the test results that deemed my blood clean after three transfusions!  Yeah!!  

Thank you nice clean Argentinian blood donors!!  You rock!!