Harry

When I was 4 months pregnant with my daughter Addison, Nate and I decided to go on a cruise to the Bahamas as a last vacation. In addition, we would, aboard ship, open the envelop that contained the answer to the riddle of what gender our child was. We would wait three days without peeking until our anniversary date - May 25th, and then we all would be revealed. This was Nate's idea...I wanted to find out at the DR's office.

We boarded the cruise ship, and began looking over the many excursion options. I'd always wanted to see the Mayan ruins, and we didn't get to last time we went. So, that was # 1 on my list. Before we'd been on the ship an entire day, it was time to sit down for our first dinner. When we did, Harry introduced himself. He was our "maitre 'd" throughout the cruise. He was an Indian man who, despite his accent, had a deeper understanding of what we needed than most. Quickly, he noticed that I was pregnant, and he became our best friend, our guardian angel on the trip. While everyone ate apple pie, he brought me chocolate (without me asking). He was all smiles and very genuine, seeing a need and quickly, quietly getting it.

The next morning, we made our way to the breakfast buffet, as I was starving. Crowded. Lots of people waiting. I poured myself some orange juice into a bumpy opaque plastic "glass". I went to sit with Nate, when out of no where -truly -emerging from behind a curtain where I'm sure the magic of how things got done on the ship lied, Harry popped out with a special glass of chocolate milk for me...just what I wanted! I never asked, it was like he magic!

Later, we went to register for our Mayan excursion, and lo and behold, Harry came to our rescue. "Not a safe trip for you, Momma. Too much hiking and riding around on bumpidy roads." You stick to town excursions! After all Harry had done to secure our happiness, we trusted him. So, we stuck to the town excursions (more on the Key West one later).

Everyday of our trip, we were visited now and then by Harry...more than a dinner maitre 'd. More like our personal guardian.

Nate and I will never forget him and his kindness, above and beyond what his job called for. I hope he is well.

Peace, Harry, wherever you are.

Morgan :')