It's A Small World

Diana's Ice Cream Truck in New Jersey

When I saw this photo, I just had to borrow it. So many of these sweltering summer days I've listened to the ice cream truck drive by. That daily traveler brings back memories of childhood.

Yet the ice cream lady in the photo is someone special. When we last saw each other, she was a young girl and I a teen. I found her on Facebook. You see, her grandpa was one of my heroes.

My sister and I called him "Uncle Wilmos." He and his wife became my parents' dear friends. And Uncle Wilmos taught me violin and life. He was my friend, hero, confidant. He always treated me like I was special. Years later he'd come play and speak at my commissioning-into-missionary service gathering, and only a heart-attack kept him from our wedding.

I snapped this photo when I was a teen.

When I reached dating age, Uncle Wilmos sat me down and gave advice drawn from his life experiences. I valued his words. They were from a man who cared about me. Other than my own Dad in those early years, this one man influenced my life profoundly.

Now, it's a small world because my dearest friend in the whole world since age 11 was Joan. I use to untie my sneakers when I saw her coming at church because I knew she'd stop, bend down, tie them, and give me a hug. This woman and I bonded at the heart~growing in joys and pains. We shared a for-life friendship. I trusted her when we went through our roughest trials because she'd known similar pain, which speaks volumes to one who's hurting.

At my bridal shower.

Uncle Wilmos and Joan both live in Heaven now. I miss them more than I can say, yet I'm comforted because I know we'll be together when my turn comes to pass from this world into eternity. So many precious folk wait for us on the other side.

Back to Diana~When I found her on Facebook, I realized we shared a mutual friend in Joan's daughter. Diana was her town's Ice Cream Lady. Joan's daughter didn't know Diana was kin to Uncle Wilmos, but she remembered the violin-playing Hungarian who traveled to churches where her mom, Joan, brought her to listen to the music she loved. It is a small world after all.

There's nothing deep or profound here, but I'm feeling nostalgic, and~even though this has been a tough summer~these memories of dear ones helps put a smile on this girl's face. I think I'll smile even more next time the ice cream truck comes by...and probably think of Uncle Wilmos, Joan, and Diana too.