I hugged a random person

I hugged a random person. We held on for two minutes, only interchanging the push and pull of our chests, until our breathing synced.

I met Tony the fall of my freshman year of undergrad. I had been hugging students I'd pick at random around campus for two minutes every day. I'd stop them, ask, and explain to them what I was doing. We weren't allowed to speak during the hug. I learned I have loud exhales.

When I did my hugging project, I employed various ways to ensure randomness. One, for example: I'd give myself a number, then declare that the tenth person to walk past me would be my selection. Two weeks into my project, I challenged myself to go beyond students, to staff and faculty.

I met one of my good friends, Rit, through a hug. Later that same week, I'd meet Tony.

Tony was my second staff. Teddy bear of a guy; warm, ginger. He told me dining staff don't get to interact with students like that; students pass through. "[Some] People here," he told me, "They come give me a hug and it means a lot. It kind of gives you that boost to keep going through the day."

That hug didn't stop with Tony. He told his coworker Stan about the two minutes we'd spent. After that, Stan was looking for me. He found me eventually, introduced himself, and it began from there. Freshman year into sophomore, we'd run into each other constantly. Exchanging salutation and the occasional chicken sandwich that was headed for the trash anyway. I met his fiancée the last week of my sophomore year, I was getting ready to head out and he informed me he was planning on moving for good.

By July, I had finished up the Portland portion of my summer fellowship. I was in South Dakota when I received an email from Stan.

Would I shoot his elopement

I'd never shot a wedding. I've never shot an elopement. I said yes anyway.

They flew me to Denver. Put me up somewhere four stars nicer than anything I'd stay in on my own dime, first class both ways, and handed me creative control of the whole thing. I walked away happy.

The night before the shoot, we went to dinner so I could hear more about their story. We chatted over Italian one night, and Mexican and Ethiopian for lunch and dinner.

God knows I needed that shoot. I was deprived creatively and was eager for an experience. The greenery for the pockets didn't hurt either.

All of it, because I hugged a stranger for two minutes and didn't say a word.

For all intents and purposes, names and specific details have been altered to protect the privacy of people.