Love, actually

One of my lovely wife’s favorite movies is “Love Actually”

It is a Christmas movie, except this particular movie is seen many times a year in our household, unlike my Leg Lamp. But that’s another story.

Anyway, the movie begins and ends with a wonderful collage of people greeting each other in an airport. The touching scenes seem genuine, and indeed they are. The director secretly recorded families and friends greeting each other and if they caught a particularly good greeting, ran out and asked the participants to sign a waiver.

The scenes, as well as the movie, are heart warming.

However, it makes you wonder: who are these people? From where did they come? Where will they go next? What is their relationship to one another?

What is their story?

Ironically the same applies to volunteering as hosts in the USO lounge.

Every once in a while, not on an infrequent basis, someone will come into the lounge, drop a donation into the kitty, smile, and walk out.

Not a word is said, except of course our “Thank you”.

Who is this person? What is their relationship with the USO that would make them pop in, donate, and then move on in a Lone Rangeresk like manner? (Pity the reader who doesn’t recognize the reference. “Tonto, do NOT go into town alone! OOOOHHHHH!!!! I’ll bet that’s going to leave a mark”).

So, one wonders about this kind individual who supports the cause of the USO in such a stealthy manner.

For example, one day, a tall, lean gentleman stops in and donates, leaving as quietly as he entered.

Salt and pepper hair. Nice looking. Pleasant face.

Why?

Who?!?

Former military with good memories about the USO?

Family member current military? Friend in the military? Distant past relative current/former military?

Is he a fan of the Lt. Dan Band?

Does he listen to the local radio host Jack Diamond, a fantastic supporter of the USO?

Did he think of the deserving troops when he saw the USO sign?

Was he a Vietnam Veteran with thoughts of challenging service? Was a childhood friend a Vietnam Veteran?

Does he have a child in the service?

Is he just grateful, like me, to live in the land of the free because of the brave?

Alas, we have no waiver to which to refer for more information. No point of reference. Just a fleeting moment when a stranger, now a friend, stops in to support the cause.

And there you have it.

This particular story has no end. This particular story will remain untold.

Intriguing.

Mystifying.

Just as warm hearted as the movie, but not a movie. It’s real this time.

This one is face to face.

Certainly there are other Mysteries of the Universe, but this mystery feels good, like a warm quilt across one’s lap on a chilly Christmas Eve.

I suppose, in its own way, it is love actually.

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