A Kiss from God

By Tom Hopkins, May 27, 2017

The event described here occurred in the summer of 2007. It is still vivid in my memory, and
continues to amaze me. Thanks to Leslie Cumming for asking me to put this to paper. It was
difficult as retelling the story always makes me emotional.

I was working downtown Dallas and had begun taking the DART rail to avoid the daily
morass of Dallas traffic. The metro cars were comfortable, never crowded, and gave me
time for personal reflection.

One particular day was an exception. After boarding a car

for my commute home, the subsequent stops on the line
produced an exceptionally large number of passengers.
As the car filled, I gave my seat to an elderly woman and
took hold of one of the hanging straps meant to steady
standing passengers. I began to wonder if there was a
convention or fair in town which might explain the
unusually large crowds

Standing there shoulder to shoulder with vacationing

families and commuters, I noticed a young boy standing
about 5 feet in front of me. As I watched him, it occurred
to me that he must be about 14 years old, and his
appearance was nearly identical to a family picture of
myself at that age.

Sandy colored hair, blue eyes, haircut, and striped shirt. All appeared to be recomposed
directly before my eyes. It was actually quite chilling.

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Looking on this young boy I began to think of events in the summer of 1967 that shaped
my life. Growing up in Hudson, Wisconsin was the epitome small town life. This was the
summer I discovered girls. Of course, girls have always been around, but in the summer
of 1967, they were to me, a new discovery.

Our local movie theater would always play movies one to two years after their initial
release. By the time we saw the movie, they were all the more wonderful, anticipation
having worked its magic upon us.

It was in the summer of 1967 that Dave Soucy, Mike

Soule and I decided to go see the movie “Dr Zhivago”. It
was at this movie that I first saw Teri Potratz, who was
destined to become my life long partner. Dave, Mike
and I were seated in the theater before the movie started
when a gaggle of public school girls entered and took
their seats several rows in front of us.

All of this was going through my head as I rode the

metro car, and continued to gaze upon my 14-year-old
doppelganger. I recalled that I would later come to find
out that this group of girls were popularly known as the
“hill girls”. As opposed to the “downtown girls”. Being
from St Patrick’s Catholic school, I did not know any of
these girls. But I recall either Dave or Mike giving me
their names, Cindy Snyder, Jana Martin, Elaine
Erickson, and Teri Potratz.

Then the memories started coming like a flood, remembering the first time we held
hands, our popular activities and the wonderful years of courting Teri. The girl who
would later travel the routes of better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness or health
that would make up our life journey.

All of these memories went through my head while hanging onto a strap hanger, shoulder
to shoulder with a crowd of people I did not know. Then out of nowhere a strong voice
called out from behind me and said “Tommy, don’t get off this train just yet.” My 14-
year-old look-a-like turned around and said to the man behind me “OK, grandpa”.

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 Not only did this young man recreate the family photo of
myself at that age, but his name was Tommy. The hair on
my forearms rose up, and an involuntary gasp came out of
my mouth. I then noticed that the man standing directly in
front of Tommy was carrying a book written by Boris
Pasternak. The book was “Dr Zhivago”.

In one single blinding moment of revelation, I realized that

God Himself had leaned over, given me a kiss on the cheek
and whispered in my ear “Ain’t life grand.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks and people may have

wondered what was wrong with me. As for myself - I shall
never forget.

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