Love is Not Quickly Forgotten

He was smiling knowingly when he asked the fateful question...

"Do you remember me?"

My brain went into to hyperdrive as I tried to trace his face.  My photographic memory was definitely out of film; I couldn't think of where in the world I would have seen this guy, let alone remember his name.  I was visiting Nebraska and was attending an extended family birthday party, and I knew this wasn't a relative.  At a loss for words, I had to say something...

"I'm so sorry, have I met you recently?

"No it's been a long time.  You were seven years old."

I breathed a sigh of relief.  There was no way anyone expected me to remember someone I must have met somewhere close to seventeen years ago. 

I smiled and asked him name - Mark.  Still not ringing bells, but then he went on to explain.

"A long time ago your uncle had a family reunion at his house and I dropped by to see what the party was all about.  You were walking with your uncle and came upon me in the driveway.  You extended your hand and revealed a simple crocheted bracelet and simply stated 'here, this is for you.'

He lifted up his arm right there and pulled back his sleeve.  There on his wrist was a pale, sea green, crocheted bracelet.  My mouth dropped open.

"Are you kidding me?" It was all I could think to say.

His answer was simple.  

"This is the same bracelet, I still have it.  In fact, I was having a bad day when you gave me this little bracelet; it completely cheered me up and the impact has stayed with me for years."

What are the odds?

My aunt had mentioned that I was in town from PA and would be at the birthday party, so he pulled a 17-year-old chain-crocheted bracelet from his dresser and put it on to tell the story. I was seven years old, and had just learned to chain yarn in hopes of being able to crochet cool things one day.  It wasn't expensive, time-consuming or all that beautiful, but it had touched a human heart.

I was so blessed as he told this short story, but I was mostly struck by this simple fact:

Never, ever underestimate the impact of a simple act of love.