Marriage Moats- Can't Make this Stuff Up

Published: Tue, 05/16/17

Marriage Moats

Caring for Marriage

Can't Make this Stuff Up
Photo: Stephen Conroy  

One of my hundred cousins lives near Disneyworld. Friends often visit her when they vacation there. Marcia's husband is a chemist but in off hours he volunteers for the Red Cross ordering supplies and shipping them to disaster victims.

A few years back they heard someone trying to get into their house. Not knocking, not trying to break the lock. But wiggling a key unsuccessfully in the keyhole. Marcia came to the door.

"Can I help you?" she asked through the peep hole.

"The key doesn't work." They opened the door and were surprised to see six adults with luggage. The huddle of Hispanic travelers looked weary, as if they were barely holding on until they could fall into bed. The conversation progressed in fits and starts, the doorstep crowd being light on English and Marcia and her husband knowing little Spanish. 

Gradually the details emerged that these folks had been gifted a trip to Disneyworld, and had rented a house to stay in. They showed the address.

"This is the right number but the wrong street. The one you want is around the corner. I'll take you," he offered. 

"But not until I get you some coffee," Marcia interrupted. She ushered them into the kitchen. 

"We are from Chile. Mario and Jose were stuck in the mine," one of them said quietly. It had been all over the news. A roof collapsed and thirty three men were trapped a mile down. The effort to rescue them had been enormous, with the combined resources of a global community. Their faces said what their voices did not. It had been grueling both for the men in the ground and their families up above. Waiting. Praying. 

"We are so glad you are safe!" she smiled. "But wait, we never introduced ourselves. I am Marcia and this is my husband John Furry."

"JOHN FURRY?!?!" Jose and Mario gasped. They abruptly stood up and threw their arms around him, overcome with emotion. 

It turns out that every package of food and medical supplies that had traveled down the airhole had a shipping label, and on that label was a name.

John Furry. 

It's almost as if Someone is watching over us. 
Love, 

Lori