My Life Achievement Award

Standing behind the podium, I realize Sarah's let go of my hand, after walking me up the stairs to the stage, and I see her smiling and encouraging me to proceed. 

The plan is for her to stand beside me and when I fade, she'll give the speech she wrote. We planned it this way because the last time I gave one, I passed out and Sarah had to shove me out of the way to finish. 

Instead, she let go of my hand, is blowing me kisses and says, "Go on."

Unprepared and confused, I turn my head to see 300 people standing, clapping and smiling. 

Suddenly, for a moment anyway, I'm back home.  

Staring at the beauty of the crowd, I stand silently until they become silent, sit and wait. 

I watch Sarah return to the table with Che, and Terry Ball who drove from Atlanta when he got wind this was happening.  

They smile at me and I feel love. 

This all came out of nowhere. 

An old colleague calls, and when I don't return the calls, she frantically messages, demanding we talk. 

I'm not up for talking, so I message back.  

And Kathryn congratulates me on winning the "Lifetime Achievement Award", given by the Georgia Alliance to End Homelessness. 

Stunned silent, I have nothing to say in response, overwhelmed by emotions long buried and put to rest. 

I feel the crowd wait on me to speak. 

"It's been 15 years," I say to the gathering, "since I've professionally worked with homeless people, but it's been less than 24 hours since one of them got in touch with me, inviting me to meet his wife and he who are vacationing nearby. He's a successful Chef now."

It's a funny blessing, who I still hear from all those decades ago. Most were homeless.  Work relationships faded but, but so many others never seem to forget.

"I am humbled to have been chosen for such an honored and prestigious award," I say, thinking about Darren and Wilma, who just wrapped up that vacation and are now back at work.

"There is a lot of romance in homeless shelters," I continue. 

"If you hang around shelters, you know there are a lot of homeless hookups ..." and the assembly begins laughing because they obviously know. 

"Homeless hookups can happen anywhere and at anytime. On top of the Laundry Room washing machine.  Under dinning room tables.  On the Chapel floor."

Everyone laughs knowingly. 

"I had a homeless hookup," I laugh, pointing at Sarah. "We built Union Mission together, then she left for a decade, but came back and now it's true love and sometimes homeless hookups work out!"

Everyone laughingly applauds.

I'm a couple of sentences into my speech and feel myself wearing out, so I rush to finish. 

"And no one does anything alone in life," I say in conclusion, pointing to Terry, who is genuinely enjoying the moment, "and there would be no structured homeless help at all were it not for him."

We catch eyes, smile and share a joyful moment enjoying the moment. 

There are so many others to thank but I'm exhausted, so I thank everyone and stumble towards Sarah, when the photographer grabs me and I remember that I'd forgotten this part of these events. 

It takes forever snapping photographs. 

Back at the table, Che crawls in my lap. Kathryn smiles, happy with how things went. Sarah and Terry are whispering and laughing to themselves. 

"Kat, I gotta go," I say, blatantly playing the Cancer card, so we can leave early. 

"Of course," she says, lovingly squeezing my arm. 

We leave.  

It is surreal. 

I am incredibly thankful. 

Che got to dress up and, for a second, catch a glimpse of the Daddy she's never known, and, for better and worse, she got to see it, touch it, taste it and feel it, a little anyway. 

I never dreamed she would.  

And Sarah and I got to celebrate it.

In spite of the good, the bad and the ugly of my career, our love was born in it, we thrive out of it and she's my perfect partner. 

"Want to get Leopoid's?" Terry happily grins, holding my plaque, because it's much too heavy for me to carry. 

We decline, collectively hug and happily say our goodbyes. 

It's silent while Sarah drives us home. 

"What did you think Che?" I ask our daughter.  

"Can we get McDonalds on the way home," she counters.

"Absolutely," Sarah laughs, because hotel banquet food has not improved at all since we frequented such affairs.  

                          ********

My Celebration of Life is winding down to the end while Sarah and Che have a whole new life together, coming soon

You can be part of their future at https://gofund.me/ffda4f4b