I'm always grateful for our hug book here at DS PTSD. I never take it for granted when I log on to our site and find a hug there from a friend. It makes my day.

So imagine how pleased I was today when my Death and Dying class I teach at my community college for nursing students ended in a surprise. Hugs for me from students wishing me a Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a great class in which we finished watching the movie Tuesdays with Morrie. It's the one based on the book by Mitch Albom in which he goes back in mid life every Tuesday to visit his old college teacher as his college professor is dying.

It happened without anyone saying anything about it, which was the best part because it was real and spontaneous. After class 7 students came up and hung around my desk at the front of the class. I asked them what they wanted, thinking they wanted to ask about the test that's coming up.

Instead, one by one, they leaned over me as I sat in my chair (I walk with a cane and teach sitting down). Each one hugged me, one by one, male and female, older and younger, and wished me a Happy Thanksgiving.

It was so unexpectedly sweet and so kind that tears came to my eyes. I live alone, and I haven't dated in 4 years, so nobody's hugged me in 4 years. I keep an appropriate distance as a teacher. It was just nice that if I was going to have my first face to face hugs in 4 years, they should happen this way.

So here I just want to pass those 7 hugs on (yes, I counted my blessings). Hugs to everybody, and Happy Thanksgiving!!

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))