Tenderness

Yesterday my little protege and I were headed to Circus Flora and we cut through the Central West End. She was napping in the front seat while I drove, listened to NPR and watched the city roll by. I spotted two men standing within arms length of one another and one of them was clearly crying and was very upset. He did not appear hysterical, just heavy with sadness and his friend stepped forward slowly with his arms open and held and hugged his friend. I slowed down to watch in my rear view mirror, because I was so captivated by this truly tender moment between two men. It was so touching to witness the tenderness and emotional openness of the hugger. In a world filled with road rage, paranoia, concealed weapons and date rape drugs, I was reassured and comforted by the unexpected display of sincere kindness.