a hand to hold

Is there better advice than this: to hold hands? Think about what it means. Packed in there is taking care of each other, feeling connected and maintaining the safety of our kids. We need a hand to hold--metaphorically when we want support and literally when we're crossing the street. Robert Fulghum, of All I really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten fame, includes this nugget of wisdom in an essay: "When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together."

Did you hear about the Iowa couple married for 72 years who died an hour apart? They'd been in a car accident and were in the emergency room. When it was clear their injuries were not improving, they were placed side by side. Guess what they did? They held hands. When they died, they were still holding hands, the husband departing an hour before his wife. After he died, her heartbeat was visible on his heart monitor. Why? Because they were holding hands.

Andy Smallman

reprinted in its entirety from Ode Magazine
read more of Andy's posts at www.odewire.com