A wave from a stranger prompting him to turn his car around was the impetus. In a world constrained by COVID, Professor Daryl P. of the Twin Cities was ready to let his extroverted nature throw caution to the wind. (Reported in a story by Peter Warren in the Mpls. StarTribune Sept. 3, 2021).
Daryl had seen the old man before, sitting on a bench outside an assisted living facility. Just as then, the man cast a friendly wave once again. Daryl couldn’t resist the opportunity to finally connect.
They met and exchanged pleasantries while keeping a physical distance. The 86-year-old veteran named Melvin had much to share. The get-togethers continued several times a week. They both came from childhoods of poverty. They enjoyed listening to and singing along with musical artists of the past such as Johnny Cash. They shared about their families, their loves, and their losses.
It didn’t take long for the relationship to expand beyond conversation. When something needed fixing in Melvin’s room, Daryl pitched in. He also took his elderly friend for a ride in the car that had started their connection – a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible. One time he even brought his teen daughter with to serenade Melvin with her guitar.
“It meant everything,” Melvin said of his relationship with Daryl.
The Professor would come home, remarking to his wife how much the meetings with Melvin mattered.
She summed up, “It was a perfect combination of proximity, ministry, and vulnerability.”
Finally, once the two friends’ COVID vaccination protocols were complete, they were able to cement their relationship with something long-awaited: a lasting, heartfelt hug. Now, in the winter, they do some of their sharing via the telephone, along with catching a Viking game or two together.
Thank you, Daryl, for making that extra effort to connect with Melvin’s friendly wave, and Living Love Large.