Our first date, revisited
We went on our first date together almost nine years ago today.
Went on other dates that week, but I don’t remember them. I remember Alison’s in particular because she was late.
She emailed me to tell me she was going to be late because she was working to get a generator for a village in Africa – which wasn’t an excuse I’d ever heard before.
She worked at Helen Keller, you see. She spent almost her entire professional career trying to help other people.
She set herself apart from the beginning.
With her education, she coulda gone anywhere. But instead she worked long hours for little pay trying to help others. She was always flying to Africa or Washington to try and make a difference.
She made such a difference in my life as well.
Just one of a million reasons why the world and I are better because she was in it.
That night…
Her: Hey, I’m here.
Me: (laughing) You were getting a generator?
Her: Yes – I was waiting for the donor to confirm.
Me: Did you get it?
Her: (beaming) Yep!
Me: Great, let’s drink to that.
Her: You’ll drink to anything.
Me: (nodding) This is true.
Last week…
Me: (waking up in the dark) Are you ok?
Her: (weakly opens and closes her right hand)
Me: (takes her right hand and sits beside her) I’m here.
Her: (squeezes my hand)
Me: I’m here.
Her: (squeezes my hand again)
Location: at the foot of her bed
Mood: numb
Music: Don’t like reality, it’s way too clear to me
Like this post? Tell someone about it by clicking a button below.
One reply on “I’m here”
I read that the root meaning of the name McCarthy is “loving,” and it is clear Alison has a heart full of love and did everything she did under the inspiration of all that love–with far-reaching effect. The world is a better place because of her presence. So many are praying for her, as well as you, Nathan and the whole family. Sending my love and prayer support.