it's a christmas miracle

i made a mad dash to the car, overloaded with presents and baking supplies to bring to my mom and dad's for our cookie bake off.  it was christmas eve morning and yet again, i was the one running late.  as i was just about to take off, i heard a shaky voice behind me, "excuse me.."  i turned around to a little old lady with a red beret and evident laugh lines.  but her eyes gave way to worry.  "have you seen a little white dog around here?"

i know all too well, that heart wrenching feeling of losing your buddy.  so i soo badly wished i could've said more but i had to answer, "no m'am, i haven't.  i'm so sorry."

"his name is tuck, if you see him.  he is lost and it's cold."

i nodded and again, offered my sympathies.  i wanted to help her.  i wanted to search every nook and cranny of this town until we found him.  it's not fair to lose someone you love, especially on the eve of christmas.

just as i had buckled in and was about to pull out of the drive, a well known sex trade worker on our street ran towards us, waving her hands.  i absolutely hate to admit this but i immediately had my guard up as she approached.  it's not completely without warrant, we've had some pretty crazy and awful experiences with some of the girls on our street but that's another blog post, another time.  anyways, she asked if we were looking for a dog and the old lady exclaimed, "yes!  have you seen him?  he's just little.  his name is tuck."  the girl smiled revealing her decayed and partially toothless mouth.  she ran back inside the brothel and a moment later, carried out the cutest, squirming ball of white puppy.  "TUCK!" the elderly woman ran towards the prostitute and hugged her puppy as tears streamed down her face.  then she grabbed the girl's face and kissed it over and over, crying, "thank you ever so much!"  

i just could not help but smile.  then i turned to my little girl, soda, once a street dog in taiwan - now sitting on my husband's lap in the passenger seat amongst the cookie trays and sprinkles.  i gave her a big forehead smooch and we went on our way.  and yup, we were late.

i'm so thankful to have witnessed that joy.  thankful for the bold, in my face reminder of the good spirits in the world and to love everyone, always.