Train Wreck

My wonderful Father
I have been an emotional train wreck today. I assume that it is because today would have been my Dad's 87th birthday if he were still alive. I've thought about him and I've missed him all day long. I was down in the cafeteria this morning getting some breakfast when I saw an old man in a wheel chair. He was being pushed around by his daughter, and he was crying. I do not know why he was crying. Perhaps he had been give some bad news at his doctor's appointment, or perhaps he had just lost a family member, I do not know. But they sat at the table across from me. His daughter made several trips to get condiments, napkins, and other stuff, while he sat there crying. Hearing his sobs broke my heart in two. I just could not bear to sit there listening to him cry. I was having a hard enough time controlling my own tears, and his tears just made it that much harder to control. I finished my breakfast and got up to go, but before I left the cafeteria, I walked over to the man and his daughter. I had tears in my eyes when I spoke to him, but this is what I said. "Sir, I could not help but overhear you crying, and it seems you are having a rough day. Well, I'm having a rough day today too, so if you don't mind, I would like to give you a hug. It might help us both feel better." He gave me the biggest and the sweetest hug I have had in months. Then he asked me why I was having such a rough day, so I told him about losing my father and that today would have been his birthday. He then gave me another hug, and patted my hand. He told me thank you. And I said, "No, thank you." His daughter was in tears now, and she patted her fathers hand and she said, "See, Dad, there still are people here that care about you." I still do not know why this old man was crying. I don't even know his name, but he helped me make it through the day. I just hope that I helped him make it through his.