Hugs from Sapporo

"Who’s got pictures?”

That was always the first question anyone asked at my weekly card game.

My apartment complex had a clubhouse where a group of us gathered each week to visit and play—but mostly to visit!

On this day I had come prepared. “My granddaughter sent me pictures of her and her husband at a festival in Japan!” I said, and reached into my purse.

As my friends admired Autumn’s picture, I was overcome with longing. I hadn’t seen her at all since they’d moved away. Oh, Lord. I’d give anything for one of her hugs right now!

I tried to distract myself with the card game. We’d just dealt when the door of the clubhouse opened and a young couple walked in. The woman was Asian, about the same age as Autumn.

“This is my wife, Ikinu,” the man said. “We just moved to the area.”

“Won’t you join us?” I asked.

The young woman approached the table and gasped. Ikinu pointed at my pictures, still out on the table. “Sapporo?” she asked.

“Yes!” I said. “My granddaughter just attended a festival there. Do you know it?”

“I grew up there! Such a beautiful village,” Ikinu said. “My grandmother still lives there. I wish I could hug her right now.”

“Well,” I said, opening my arms wide, “I’ll be your grandmother today if you’ll be my granddaughter.”

Ikinu stepped close and we held each other for a long time. Angels had sent me a hug…all the way from Sapporo, Japan.