A Hamburger Review

I just ate the best hamburger I’ve ever had.  Let me tell you about this wonderful hamburger.  It came in the form you’d expect it to be, except it was half of a hamburger.  It was delivered to me although I didn’t order it and never expected it.  As I ate this burger, I got tears in my eyes, not because it was so good (it was a fine burger), but because the person that delivered it to me is. 

Garrett and I bought the property next door to Ray and Sandy Singer about 17 years ago while we were pregnant with Andrew and living with my parents.  It had a tiny house and the land was oversaturated with water.   Over the years we tore down that tiny house, built our home, improved the property, and raised our family. Sandy and I got to know each other pretty well while we were out gardening, sharing ideas on gardening, planting things together, enjoying BBQ’s and parties together, even sharing each other’s complaints and fears in life.  She has always been a good listener.  We also share similar interests, like gardening, crafting, and knitting, and get together to participate in group crafting days and retreats.

Several years ago, she invited me to go with her to a yarn shop and then lunch at her favorite burger place.  She raved about this one burger place and wanted me to come and split one and enjoy it with her.   I joined her and we had a great time – the burger was fantastic, too!  We’ve done this maybe a couple more times together, and through the years, she has done something else so thoughtful, I had to write it down and share it.

All of us, at one time or another, feel alone and are depressed about something.  I’ve always been able to work through those feelings by keeping busy or doing something for someone else.  Since Garrett’s death I’ve had a difficult time working through feelings of loneliness and depression no matter what I do.  People from all over have been kind and send their thoughts and love and I’m grateful for that.  I know I am loved as I love others – that’s a good feeling.  Today I had half a hamburger that was literally the exemplified thoughts of someone that cares.  I could hardly swallow it down as the emotions of gratitude welled up in my chest from realizing that over the years, in her very quiet way, Sandy has loved me in such a beautiful way.   This wasn’t the first half-hamburger she had delivered to me.  Just about every time her and her husband have gone out to enjoy a hamburger at this place, she has remembered me and has unexpectedly brought me half a burger.  I never expect anyone to go out of their way for me, so this has always been surprising to me.  She’s handed it to me with a gleeful smile (especially if it's a new kind and she wants a review), she's left it with Andrew for me, and because I wasn’t dressed today, she left it on my porch for me to get it in privacy.  It’s that good of a burger and she’s that good of a friend.