Free Hugs

I reach out my arms and give all of you a hug tonight. In the introduction to the
last story, I mentioned Ginny and I received a free hug in Manhattan. Tonight's story,
along with the video's at the bottom, should touch your hearts.

To be honest, I have two stories in this post. This introduction is a story in itself.

I hope you aren't suffering the heat we had these past four days. The temperature
in Fort Lee, New jersey and Manhattan has been 90F and a above, with a heat index over
100F.

We're not used to these temperatures, especially this early in the summer.

Poor Ginny didn't sleep well on Monday night. I called her from work on Tuesday
afternoon. The tone of her voice concerned me. "What's wrong?" I asked – always in tune
with my bride.

"I burned out." She replied. "I tried to get a nap today, but it wouldn't happen. I
guess I have too much on my mind."

I called her when I left work. "I'm about to go into the subway." I said. "I'll call
you when I get on the bus."

We live by the George Washington Bridge. I take the subway there and grab the
bus across. Ginny picks me up on the New Jersey side of the bridge. "OK! I love you!"

"I love you too!" I smiled and waited for her reply.

"I love you more!"

"Yeah! Yeah! I know! It's your day." I smiled. Our ritual continues. The next
day will be mine. I'd be able love her more.

My forty-five minute subway ride came to an end. I got on the bus and called
her. The phone rang three times and switched to her voicemail. I left a message. "Hi,
Hun! I'm on the bus."

I got off the bus. Ginny wasn't there, so I called her again. It went to her
voicemail. I knew she'd fallen asleep, but I worried. I prayed nothing happened to her.

Was she OK?

The George Washington Bridge is a mile from out house. It was 98 degrees and
humid. I walked home. On the way, I stopped at the store, picked up the few things we
needed, and called her again. My call went to voicemail. I walked the rest of the way. My
laptop bag slapped against my side. The weight of my purchase grew heavy in my hands.
Sweat dripped from my face. My shirt stuck to my back.

I trudged up the stairs, wiped my face and balding head with a handkerchief.
There was my bride – asleep. I called her and watched her phone. It didn't ring. The
battery was dead. I let her sleep, sat on the deck, wiped more sweat from my face, and
read a book.

Later, I walked into the house. "Oh!" I heard Ginny yell out. "You're up!"

"Up?" I asked. "Gin, it's 8 PM."

I watched her connect with reality. She looked around the room. "But?"

"Hun, it's 8 PM."

"But I need to drive you to the bus."

"Gin, I just got home."

She looked around again. "How did you get home?"

"I walked."

"In this heat?"

"Yep!"

Ginny apologized all night long. I reassured her, "Gin, it's OK. You had a rough
night last night. I understand!"

Back to the main story.

A few weeks ago, we toured "The City" as they call Manhattan here. We had Liz
– my other Mum – and her daughter Kathy with us. They were visiting from Canada. We
had just finished seeing the South Street Seaport on the lower east side of Manhattan and
were headed to the subway to our next destination. We were about to drop underground
to the subway, when Ginny realized we were across the street from Union Square.

"Do you guys want to see Union Square?" Ginny asked.

"Sure!" they nodded in agreement.

Liz and Cathy had no idea what Union Square was, but they were all about seeing
anything we had to show them in "The City". We walked into Union Square and received
free hugs.

Liz and Kathy, thank you for visiting. Without you, this story and the story
behind it would have been lost to me.

After the story, watch the links to the real videos about hugs.

If you want to send a comment along, send them to msmith4@nj.rr.com. I include
a few in each post. (No tonight)

PS – The night I walked in the heat, just after Ginny woke, we were hit by a
severe storm. Ginny and I have been through storms with tornadoes. We think we were
very close to having one that night. There may have been a few small ones touch down
around us. This has not been confirmed yet, but several towns around us have been
without power for three days and may not get it back until this weekend.

Our internet has been out for more than two days. I'm way behind in emails
and story postings. All the great links and comments will be posted this weekend. The
only links I'll post tonight are the links related to the story below.

Free Hugs

"Do you want a hug?" The young man asked Ginny. He held a sign in his hand –
"Free Hugs". I looked around. There were other people with him. They held their hand-
made signs high. The message was the same on all of them – "Free Hugs!"

"Do you want a free hug?" The young man asked Ginny again.

"Sure!" Ginny smiled and walked up to him. She reached up, wrapped her arms
around his neck, pulled him down to her level, and hugged him with all the love she had
in her heart.

They parted. "WOW!" He exclaimed. "That was the best hug I've had all day!"

"I'm a hugger." Ginny smiled at him.

He looked at me. "How about a hug?"

"You got it!" I walked into his open arms. We held briefly and parted.

A young lady walked up and hugged Ginny. She turned to me, opened her arms,
and hugged me too.

Ginny and I stepped back and watched the "Free Huggers" work their magic with
those who accepted them. They offered hugs to anyone and everyone.

#############

Juan Mann (One Man) returned to Sydney, Australia in 2004, after living in
Europe for several years. He was depressed over his parent's divorce. Most of his friends
had moved on. It was just him. He sat for months. Alone and depressed, Juan Mann
decided to make a difference and reach out. He made a sign that read, "Free Hugs" and
stood at the Pitt Street Mall – one of the busiest streets in the center of Sydney. He put his
arms anyone who accepted his offer.

At first, he left his wallet at home, had a friend watch over him, and expected to
be ridiculed. After fifteen minutes, a woman approached him. "My dog died today." She
said. "It's also the first anniversary of my only daughter's death. I could use a hug."

Juan was quoted as saying, "That first woman, it was more than a hug; it meant
something to her."

Others joined Mann. They opened their arms to others. His message spread across
the city. Afraid of lawsuits, officials banned "Free Hugs". The people revolted. More than
10,000 people signed a petition to allow him to continue his mission.

Shimon Moore, the lead singer of "The Sick Puppies" happened to see Juan. They
hugged and became friends. Moore borrowed a video camera and filmed Juan giving
hugs. When Mann's grandmother died, Moore put the video together with his band's song
called, "All The Same" and posted the video on "YouTube" with the following caption:

Sometimes, a hug is all we need. Free hugs is a real life controversial story of
Juan Mann, a man whose sole purpose mission was to reach out and hug a stranger, to brighten up their lives."

The video was a hit. It spread around the world. Juan has appeared on Oprah and
several other major television shows. His idea continues to gain support and grow.

After his first day on Pitt Street, Juan wondered if others were doing the same.
He found Amma – The Hugging Saint of India, Jason Hunter in Atlanta, Georgia, and
Jayson Littman in New York.

Jayson started his hugging campaign the same year as Juan. They both felt a need
to reach out to humanity. A financial analyst in Manhattan, Jayson believed New Yorkers
could use a hug. From 2004 through to 2006, he spent one weekend afternoon a month
holding his "Free Hugs" sign in his hands and opened his arms to anyone who needed
human comfort.

Since then, Jayson's mission has been taken over by others who believe – hugs for
all. On the last Saturday afternoon of the month, you'll find them gathered in Union
Square in Lower Manhattan. They hold their signs high and offer their open arms to all
who need a human touch.

#############

The huggers worked the crowd. Most people ignored them or shook their heads
to indicate they were not interested. Those who opened their arms in return, walked away
with a smile on their face.

I felt a warmth – a glow – fill my heart. Ginny and I were going through rough
times. Money was scarce, bill collectors called on a regular basis. We were stressed and
worried, but on that afternoon, for a brief moment, it was all forgotten. It took a simple
hug to make everything better.

Michael T. Smith

See Juan Mann and the song about him here:

This is the video and the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O6vZTvQl4o

This is "Free Hugs" in New York.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD6o49Uqv10

Ginny and I plan to join them this month. We want to hug those who don't know the

power a hug has.

To sign up for my stories go to:
http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?m=1101828445578&p=oi
To read more of my stories, go to
http://ourecho.com/biography-353-Michael-Timothy-Smith.shtml#stories
Keep on waving

If you wish to send a comment along, send them to msmith4@nj.rr.com. I include a few
in each post.

Links and comments will be posted with my next story.
Tonight, I leave you with a simple and powerful hug.
Mike

Story ID:	3982
Written by:	Michael Timothy Smith (bio, link, contact, other stories)
Story type:	Musings, Essays and Such
Location:	Manhattan New York USA
Year:	2008
Person:	HUGS to ALL