Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Willy's wife, Chery soon came home, and he told me that it was the ninety-sixth birth-
day of one of his friends, Kay.
He smiled sadly, “If we don't bring her cake, I'm afraid no one else will.”
As Chery bought a cake for Kay, my new Scottish friend told me how his son was get-
ting married that summer. But as I soon found out, they were not going to be able to attend.
The wedding was going to be in the UK, and Willy and Chery could not afford the price of
the airline tickets.
Willy's mouth was smiling, but his eyes glistened with an unspoken pain as he said
tightly, “Leave it to them to pick the most expensive time of year.”
“You're not going to be able to go?” I asked, heartbroken for this kind man who could
connect with so many strangers yet was not able to see the ones he loved most.
Willy didn't say anything at first but then admitted, “We just can't afford it.”
He added with a touch of Scottish pride, “Besides folks need us here.”
I saw the sadness wash over his face. He looked at Chery, who gave him a reassuring
look, a look that spoke a thousand words.
All will be okay, my love.
I wondered if next to Billy Graham, the other most important moment in Willy's life had
been when he met Chery. I knew that is what I had with Lina—the meaningful glance, the
loving support, the “I got you babe” that we rarely ever get elsewhere in life.
I left Kindness One in Willy's garage and rode to Kay's in the back of his pickup truck.
Willy let us into Kay's house. She sat in the twilight of the afternoon without any lights on,
the light of the television reflecting on her face, and then she turned, and the whole room
lit up.
Everyone in the world should know a woman like Kay. At ninety-six years old, she had
more energy than most people half her age. She giggled at all my jokes and kept thanking
Willy and Chery for the cake. Even though we were her first birthday guests, she didn't
seem to care—she was just happy that Willy was there.
She curled into her armchair, clutching a heavy blanket to her body, and told me, “Get-
ting old is for the young!”
She laughed at her little joke before getting more serious, “It's true, though. You get old
and suddenly everyone you know is gone, and you realize that, well, it just doesn't last long
enough.”
Willy laughed, “Well, Kay, we hope we can all make it to ninety-six.”
She winked at him, “That's why I love this man. He makes me feel like I'm part of the
human race. And not just some old leftover luggage.”
