It's All About People...

Almost four years ago, I was a regular over on the Ravelry website. Although I don't get to visit there much these days, I'm still a member of the Grandma's Hand group. Some of my friends here were friends there first.

In August of 2008, Handsome had traveled to Massachusettes to visit his brother while I created a  wedding gown for my niece (who is also my goddaughter) here in Florida. As that trip came to an end, rather than receive a call from him to tell me he was on his way home, I got a call from my brother-in-law to tell me that Handsome had been flown (Flight for Life) to Boston Brigham & Women's Hospital.

I was journaling my wedding dress progress with the Grandma's Hand group, but it quickly turned into me sharing my concerns and fears with them. I'm not ashamed to say that those women, along with my faith, sustained me during the time I was with my husband in Boston. I'll never forget how those friendships forged on the internet, became a lifeline for me, while I was so far from home. (Thank you, Marrianne - and so many others for your help during a time that seems like a lifetime ago.)

I won't share the details of the scary three weeks (and subsequent months) that followed, but I do want to tell you about the doctor we met there. Dr. Bara Zuhaili cared for my husband every day, and frequently took the time from his busy schedule to make sure I was alright, too.

In the process, a friendship was forged. Bara was born in Syria. He has studied medicine here in the United States and is looking forward to completing his degree in plastic surgery. His desire is to help burn and accident victims to be whole again.

He speaks with the most wonderful accent, and we're learning more about his life and culture the longer we're friends. He's the age of our sons, so we feel like we've added another loving and generous young man to our family.

We were so happy when we received an invitation to his wedding in Michigan in May, which was soon followed by a telephone call to tell us that he and his fiancee' would be visiting family in the Orlando area this past week.

Last evening, we met them in Tampa for dinner. Iman (his betrothed) was born in America and lives in Michigan near her family. She and Bara have known each other for years (introduced to each other by their sisters!), and are now engaged. We are beyond happy for them. She is a beautiful woman, completing her studies in corporate law.

As Handsome and I drove home from the restaurant, smiling nearly all the way, we talked about how happy we are for both of them. They're a perfect match for each other, and we know they'll have a wonderful life together. We can't wait to travel to Michigan in May to watch them pledge their lives to each other.

More than anything, the four of us agreed that our friendship is about "people" and not "politics". We're glad they're in America, safe from the sadness in his home country. We're glad that the two of them have found love together, and pray that they'll always find happiness and home in each other.