Happy, happy. Joy, joy.

The other day as I was about to indulge in a chocolate cupcake with mint butter cream icing sprinkled with Andes candies I got something sweeter instead. It was warm and heartfelt and spontaneous and welcoming!! I got a hug. A simple but powerful hug!!

When my children were little I hugged them constantly. I couldnt get enough of them. They were delicious just like the minty covered cupcake. As they grew I still hugged them. I hug them now to say hello and goodbye every chance I get. When I feel awful or discouraged my husband can wrap me in a hug that comforts me like a child's favorite blanket. I like hugs!!

Luckily for me most of the people I want to hug will hug me back. I hug people in the grocery store or the lobby of a theatre or the streets of town. I cant help it, I enjoy letting people I care about know how I feel with a squeeze. I wish I could hug more kids at school; some of them really need it. You can tell who they are, the lonely or misunderstood ones who may never have any nice interactions during the school day and may go home to a less than wonderful life. I cant hug them, but want to(sometimes I do anyway!).

My recent hug history has included an amazingly talented 7 year old who has hugged me with great abandon since she was 2, fun and funny ladies I met at the beach, my parents and relatives who I surprised with a visit, Brutus my granddog (who hugs back by the way),and a gaggle of ladies at a recent Mexican themed soiree! I dont know how to but would love to send virtual hugs all the time. People who I rarely see should get them regularly and people I miss, too. Those are for me as much as for them. To hug someone I love who doesn't really hug back is a little bit awkward but I hug away anyway; it is quick and painless and they get over it! My very favorite hugs are ones that last more than a second, where you feel like you could just squeeze the stuffing out of someone! That is the kind of hug I got at the cupcake place, a really genuine and happy embrace!

Happy happy, joy joy indeed! Hugs to you all!