Hug For Christmas - The Best Christmas Present Ever
by John
At the age of 17 I joined the Marine Corp once I graduated from high school since I felt it would be a place where I could have a sense of belonging. For the next four years I spent my time in the Asian vacation: also known as Vietnam. Two of those years were spent in Khe Sanh at different times. At One time we took bombardment for 71 consecutive days from the NVA; lots of fellow Marines were hurt, killed and scared as hell. I escaped in one piece from that experience. Then around dinner time on December 24, 1971, I returned home after being discharged from the Corp. I came home unannounced not knowing how I would be received since it was a place devoid of any love. I loathed the though of walking through the front door since I knew I'd be received without out any fanfare. I knew there would be coldness greeting me once I walk through the door. I remember opening the front door and looking into the dining room where my parents had some friends over for a Christmas Eve dinner. They were all around the large dining room table where 15-20 were seated. Instead of being received with coldness, my dad got up from the dining room table and literally ran to me an gave me a hug; a hug so tight it felt it would break me in half. It was a hug I'd been waiting for all my life and the best Christmas present anyone could give. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. It was a expression of emotion I never saw my dad demonstrate before; yet saw regularly after I came back home. He was a changed man and he gave me something so simple that will never be erased from my mind; a hug! A HUG!!! Even though my dad could have afforded to buy me just about anything I wanted growing up, it's the small simple things in life that make the memories. It was the simple thing that I always wanted and finally received. A hug for Christmas will do wonders! |
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