Touch

"Anh ơi, em nè."
Everyone broke into laughter as Sr. Marie Trang "pleaded" to be recognized.

The close group of friends were at Quý Lành's 25th wedding anniversary celebration. The couple were also long-time catechists at Holy Martyrs Church and so our sisters were also invited to be part of the festivities.

One of the guests suggested a game. Quý, the husband, would be blindfolded. All the females present would take turns holding Quý's hand. Quý would have to recognize his wife's hands. Quý, a practical jokester himself, quickly got the game started.

"Anh ơi, em nè."
"Honey, it's me," Sr. Marie Trang repeated in Vietnamese. Yet Sr. Marie's close impersonation of Lành's voice could not persuade Quý. The room vibrated with laughter as Quý turned down Sr. Marie and she left the line with a look of pretended sadness.


The two had barely clasped hands when they embraced without a word.
Everyone was amazed.
And impressed.

They knew each other in the touch of a hand.
Voices did not distract them.
Blindness did not blind them.
Pressure and expectations did not intimidate them.

Their hands had touched when the voices of their four children clamored continuously for attention.
Their hands had touched when financial woes had threatened to blind their hopes of a secure future.
Their hands had touched when pressure from both sets of in-laws led them down difficult roads.

They did not win the game out of sheer luck.
They had already mastered it in life.
Would you say the iPod touch is more powerful?

As told by Sr. Marie Trang, CMR.

Written by srjaninevan.

Photo credit en.bestpicturesof.com