[RecipesAndMore] The Touch

[steve doyle]

"The Touch"   >> Yesterday I paused outside the deli in my office building to let pass a >> rather harried >> Looking mother pushing a stroller loaded with a variety of shoulder bags >> and >> a small little >> girl. >> My mind was elsewhere and I never actually saw what caused it, but >> halfway >> through >> This narrow doorway a wheel of the stroller caught on the threshold and >> tipped the entire >> load forward. >> Caught off balance and a little pre-occupied herself,  this young lady >> lost >> her grip >> and the stroller pitched forward,  spilling the contents of several bags >> and >> one very frightened >> brown haired child. >> Instinct took over and as any father would do, my first reaction was to >> lift >> this >> baby to my shoulder, pat her on the back and console her.  I couldn't get >> over how light she was or how >> strange it was that she didn't look around for her mother. >> She just cried and stared directly at the wall and never turned her head >> in >> any direction. >> Despite her small stature, Angelica, as I would later learn her name was, >> nearly >> choked me with her grip, as she frantically held onto my shirt and neck. >> Never responding to my voice as >> my daughter had, Angelica pressed her face into my hands as I stroked her >> hair and >> wiped the tears from her wide green eyes. >> It only took a second or two for her mother to free the stroller from the >> doorway >> and race to my side, but Angelica would not let go of my shoulder and >> hand >> so I told her mother to go >> ahead and get her things together while I held the baby. >> I had resumed my attempt at calming the baby when her mother turned and >> said, >> "She can only hear you if you put her ear to your chest, she's also >> deaf." >> Also? I turned my head to stare into this beautiful little girls eyes, >> and >> saw nothing >> - no response, no reaction. >> This frail, frightened child was blind and deaf, her only window to the >> world was >> through touch. >> I stroked her cheek and was given a hopeful smile through her tears, I >> tickled her >> under the chin, she giggled and placed her head on my shoulder and >> sighed. >> My heart was broken as >> I could only think of my own two and a-half-year old daughter, Christina. >> I thought >> of how often she fell asleep to my wife and I singing to her or how often >> I >> catch her looking >> out of the corner of her eye at me and laughing when I wink or make a >> face. >> Would she ever know the >> joy and love in her home if she couldn't see or hear it? >> Could I show her how much she means in my life just by touch alone? >> How often had I said,  "I love you, Good night,"  without a hug or a >> kiss? >> We all know how important touching can be, we all know the peace that >> settles into >> your heart after a warm hug, but could any of us convey complex emotions >> like sadness, >> joy, sympathy or love through touch alone? >> Did this little girl know that I was a stranger, someone she had never >> been >> near before? >> Did she even have a concept of different people at all?  Could she tell >> her >> mother >> apart from any other woman?  And then all these questions were answered >> in >> one quick second. >> Her mother took her from me and nuzzled her neck and hugged her. >> The look on that child's face answered all and then some.  Of course she >> could. >> I took my seat and tried my best not to cry in the hallway of my office. >> I >> pray >> that this mother can somehow get through to her little girl over the only >> bridge available, and I pray >> that I will never have to try. >> I do know one thing though -- I'm going home tonight and practice... LR FROM NOTTINGHAM ENGLAND --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Access the Recipes And More list archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/recipesandmore%40googlegroups.com/ Visit the group home page at: http://groups.google.com/group/RecipesAndMore -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---