Merry Christmas Eve from northern Minnesota!
Trekking up to my stomping grounds today for the holiday week, I wanted to fit in this holiday message to brighten your Christmas even more and to offer gratitude to all those who gave to help brighten the holiday for one Minnesota family.
We all made Walter and Malik’s Christmas a lot more merry.
First, a minor miracle in healing from his Dec. 17 hip surgery had Walter surprise me Sunday night with a phone call from back at his home. Now with this chance to deliver all these donations (and over $500 cash!) before the holiday, my friend Patrick and I arrived yesterday morning with the bags, boxes, cooler, and cash envelope.
The two recipients couldn’t have been more different physically, with Malik bouncing up & down and Walter immobilized from his surgery. But what he lacked in maneuverability, Walter compensated in Christmas spirit, taking photos and sharing stories in between me and Patrick’s multiple trips to the car for armfuls of contributions.
Old soul Malik wanted to return the favor, said Walter, so the 9-year-old young man handed me and Patrick some goods from Bath & Body Works, and Walter offered us each one of his BBQ Smokehouse business t-shirts.
Walter envisions a day when he gets back to running his business, which is all part of his story I’ll return after the holidays to document. But first, it’s time for us all to celebrate Christmas, which Walter and Malik will be doing with a little extra spirit (and meal prep) this year.
THANK YOU to all who gave to and/or prayed for Walter & Malik. And thank you to everyone here for being a part of The Periphery—the stories we share, the lives we touch.
Merry Christmas!