A Crandall Hallmark Movie Without The Snow or The Kiss, Just Friendship

Yesterday, I was able to attend my first ever, campus-wide Holiday Luncheon. Normally, I am already in Syracuse at this point, but this year I'm still crossing i's and dotting t's. It was a beautiful spread - the entire Tully was recreated as a wonderland for staff, faculty, alumni and friends: a feast for the holiday season.

My faux pas of the day, however, was one I regret. The impeccable, wonderful retiree Dr. Mary Frances Malone was in attendance and I wanted to give her a hug in celebration of her accomplishments. I hugged her, it triggered her felt hat to flop into my arms, that knocked a cup of coffee out of my hands. The rest went in slow motion as the hat landed on the floor before the coffee. It was too late. The hat was soaked and I felt terrible.

I had to get to my office, however, after cleaning up the mess to attend a national conference call. I made peace with a wonderful human being and arrived to room 115 to learn the meeting was canceled. I took advantage of the moment to do grant work when I saw on Facebook that my colleague, Dr. Kris Sealy, was in need of a teleporting machine. Her son's E-string on his violin snapped and he had a Christmas concert to perform at. She, however, had to be at Fairfield to be part of a dissertation proposal (among  other things) and her husband, teacher extraordinaire Dave Wooley was still teaching in Stamford. I quickly called her to say, "Where are you?" She was in Stratford. "Where's the music store?" It was in Fairfield. "When are you able to drop off the violin?" In 30-minutes.

I simply said "I'm heading back to Stratford now, but I can wait 30-minutes." I met her at the music store and the hand-off was made.

Phew. That's what she, Dave and I said. I met her at the music store, they re-strung the violin, and I headed home to drop the instrument off at their home. I put it at the front door, but the middle school boys weren't home. I didn't feel comfortable leaving it, so I packed it back up and decided to drive towards Wooster Middle School. As I headed up Nichols Avenue I saw Isaiah heading home with his crew of kids, including brother David, and I pulled to the side of the road and yelled, "Isaiah. I got your goods." We waited for traffic to slow down and I handed it over.

Again, phew. I'm happy that the musical instrument was back in his hands.

That's the Hallmark moment - a kid and the request of the jazz band that he could play with Christmas music with them. It all was made possible by luck.

I'm believing in luck and heading into Friday with a smile.

"Oh heaven and nature sing! Oh heaven and nature sing! Oh heavannnnnnnnnn and naturrrrreee sing."

And with that, we are on a TGIF before the weekend.