TOUCH ME, NELSON

TOUCH ME
9” x 12”
pen and ink on paper

Nelson's Office

Nelson, an old friend from college, came home to the country with Norman to celebrate his birthday. It was planned months ago and I was pretty excited to meet him and talk about how things have gone through with each of our lives. I had thought of giving him something a bit more than the usual bottle of wine or perhaps a really nice shirt to remember the country he left behind for a life in Canada.

But things can happen in between. Tragedies and even fate can intervene with ones plans. When the day came and I received a short message that he is here, I thought, "Oh shit. I have nothing to give."

I dug through my pockets. I only had enough for bus fare to go to where he's staying and back home, and nothing else.

I ended up rummaging through my piles of drawings and picking a nice one for him.

"Damn, I just hope he likes this measly drawing. I guess - and I hope - this'll do as a gift," I was telling myself as I tried to carefully wrap the drawing with some brown paper and a ribbon recycled from a gift wrap of two years ago.

I gave it to him when I arrived at his hotel room.

We met our other friends.

We talked. Laughed. I cracked some Canadian jokes to Norman's delight.

It was good, really good to see an old friend.

_____________

I received this in my email today:

Hi Dan,

Here’s a view of my little (cluttered) office space, with your drawing on one wall. ;-) Thought you might appreciate this.

Hope you’re well, and good luck with your exhibit. I’m sure sisikat ka na (wag mo kaming kalimutan, ha?)

Cheers,
Nelson