Nate and Marion

Here's what I learned about Nate and Marion today.

Nate lost his wife 7 years ago. He cries often but not unapologetically. He was in the chicken farming business and has roots in Austria. His daughter is battling a rare form of cancer, his 17 year old grandson committed suicide and he lost both brothers....one older....one younger last year. His granddaughter is an artist but to make ends meet....she works in an abortion clinic. She's becoming discouraged with the horrors she sees every day.

Marion wanted 12 children. She loved her two sons but hoped for girls. Adoption was not an option. Her husband ....who passed away first....threatened divorce if she pushed the large family issue. After putting her son on an airplane to visit his grandmother....she lost him in a tragic crash when he was 13. She's got grandchildren, but is foggy about whether any of them are granddaughters. (Nate reminds her that "yes"....one is a girl) Marion was a tomboy growing up and she absolutely fusses over my girls.

They hooked up when Marion approached Nate six years ago and asked, "Do you want to be friends?" Nate...... still grieving the loss of his wife.......said, "Yes." They have been together ever since. In his words, "Her family has adopted me and my family has adopted her. We do everything together." He is devastated by Marion's recent memory loss.

All this information was exchanged during an afternoon visit...where the girls were gifted with stuffed animals and much love was bestowed.

What a humbling, humbling encounter.