A hug from a stranger

       I know I will forever be trapped in a time warp but I had written so many thoughts that stay with me so I remind myself to share ...  Following the memorial in Rhode Island ,  Hollys grandmother had winde up in the hospital for a colonoscopy and so I spent 2 days with my Mom. Holly's grandmother  is an incredible woman who recently celebrated her 85th and my beautiful daughter Rose has given her Sitto a great grand son, her first, Joseph James or JJ as Aunt Gloria loves to call him. The night  Mama Leona came home, she offered the most profound advice...She said "Robert you have to Be content with your loaf of bread and added afterwards if you have two thats even better". Mom is not known for delivering advice in such a simplistic way, it usually comes with why don't you and if i were you etc... So later it sat with me and I thought she's absolutely right... I could share it, break bread with friends, freeze it for the future,  eat it with cheese and if Im lucky enjoy some wine with it... anyway depending on moods, attitudes and  how hungry we are ...bread can be used for so many good and different situations.

      After the 2nd day... I drove from Rhode Island to New Hampshire to check on the lake house and turned out the furnace needed parts and so I spent 5 minutes before Holly whispered lets go to  Burlington and off we went. I called the Burlington Hostel asking for a bed and where I could find the best vegetarian restaurant ? It was a toss up between Leunig's which might of been Holly's favorite or Revolution Kitchen came highly recommended. I asked her if she cared if I ate vegetarian or not, to which she replied No, whatever you like Dad. 

     I arrived and ordered a glass of wine at a bar that had 4 chairs to which I was the only one..  After a glass of wine and as i was contemplating leaving, the owners who were also the chefs,  came to check on some papers by the cash register and before you know it I had tears in my eyes and she came from behind the counter  over to ask me what was wrong and I couldn't help but tell her about what happened... She walked over to the Buddha statue in the restaurant and took a small quartz crystal and put it in my hand saying Holly was always with me and hugged me. She insisted on buying my soup and couple of glasses of wine and gave me a loving hug and shared a moment saying she think she recognized Holly from a few years back and off I went, back to the hostel.

         



The next morning Joanne suggested I see Holly's boss from Muddy Waters, a Coffee shop when she worked there, during her College days. Mark couldn't believe I stopped to pay a visit and he thanked me so much for the gift of showing up. We spoke at length and we each felt we were meant to connect and we were each happy I made this trip and without agenda. Toward the end of a couple of hours he asked if he could give my number to Carrie his partner who was Holly manager, so I said of course. I went back to pack my goods up at the hostel while I received a call from Carrie asking if we could meet at the bottom of Mt Phylos and walk up as she told me Holly had done with her in the past. We spoke about life contemplated why as we neared the top it was so beautiful I asked Carrie if she would like to sprinkle a little of Hollys love and ashes and she cried, gave blessings

and did so.

   

        As we walked down she asked where i was going next and I said I was heading back to Brooklyn so she suggested this place that Holly may have gone to do some bouldering.  In order for me to get there I would have to take a ferry across the Lake and drive back through the Adirondacks so  I followed her as she lead me to the ferry, and what perfect timing as i caught the last ferry.  The inn she suggested was an hour from the ferry as I called the inn on the way and they kept me of the phone for about 10 minutes asking the inn keeper whether they would take any guests for the night.. turned out I was the only guest at the inn and met a fellow named John who lived in NJ who's father was the ex mayor of the town which I immediately felt some kindred as he talked about his 1 year old and his love for hunting ... I think Sam would have liked to have met  him. The whole time I had no plan and traveled much in the way that Holly would have, guided by her spirit and whispers.  She was with me every minute of those precious few days....