Touched and Warmed

It was June 2020, pandemic time. On a pleasant afternoon in the park, I took a photo of a couple sitting on a boulder. It seemed lovely to see this older couple being together on a pleasant day. We can't quite recall how we communicated with the lady, but we did manage to email the photo to her.

Almost four years later, the lady has sent an email to Sue.

Sue, I'm sure that day in Riverside Park you would never have thought that taking a special picture would be kept as such a great memory.

After the article in the paper was posted and shared by so many X continued to lose his
fight with Dementia and cancer and almost two years later he passed away.

For his memorial service I created a book of memories with Shutterfly and the cover was that picture. His whole family was delighted and I keep the book on my coffee table to browse through when the different anniversary's arrive.

You have no idea how that picture changed so much for me and I just wanted to thank you once again.

I hope all is well with you,

Now, doesn't that touch a body and warm the very cockles?

One of the meanings of "cockle" is the chamber of a kiln: in reference to the heart, it refers to the chambers, of which there are four (two atria and two ventricles). The heart has always been associated with emotions, especially love, excitement and fear, probably because when we feel a strong emotion we feel our heart thumping and beating faster. So when something "warms the cockles of our heart", it is a reference to something pleasant that makes our heart beat faster and makes us feel good. It is probably also the origin of the saying that something gives us that "warm and fuzzy feeling". (The Sydney Morning Herald)