unforgettable hugs

There have been a few times in my life when someone has hugged me, and it is a moment in time that I will never forget. You know how some hugs are so much more than hugs?! I can't explain it any other way, but these were those...

It was the night that Matt and I got engaged. It was a Saturday during football season, which meant the guys had a game that afternoon so they were beat. Matt played left guard on the O-line, and he roomed with Tony, the guy who played left tackle right next to him. Matt took me on a walk and proposed to me at our special place. We were so excited to walk back to the dorms and share the news with our roommates. Mine were out and about, so we went up to Matt's room (he lived a floor above me). I'll never forget the moment we walked in the door, and I held out my left hand. Tony just walked down the hall with a huge grin on his face and embraced me in the biggest, happiest bear hug I had ever gotten. He was so very genuinely happy for Matt and I, I could feel it in his hug. It was truly a hug that I will never forget.

It was our wedding day, much of which is a bit of a blur. But I clearly remember lining up with our parents in the back of the church for a reception line. My Grandpa Grant was one of the first people to come through. He came up to me, not hiding or trying to hold back the tears, and hugged me fiercely. It was such a very special moment. One time my Grandpa Gerry told me, there wouldn't be so many tears if there wasn't so much love...because he lives in Canada and there are lots of tears every time we say goodbye. It was so true in this moment, there was so much love in that embrace. I will never forget it.

For the last couple of years, Matt's brother Travis has been talking about how excited he is to be an Uncle. Not so long ago he was in Chicago for an interview. Knowing he wouldn't want to be the last to know which would have been the case if we'd waited til he got back, Matt called him to tell him he was finally going to be an Uncle. A few days later, after he got back we went over to the Hoekstra's for dinner. I literally walked in the door and right into Trav's hug before I even knew what hit me. Our Aunt and Uncle who still didn't know were there, so there were no words, it was just a big awesome hug that said more than words can.

I hope I hug like them.