Adventures at Rasa Ranch #10

[Guest guest]

7/12/02 " "

 

"Bye, 'Daddy,'" I whisper from inside his tender embrace, "Have a good day."

"Bye, Sweetheart."

 

Ananda is kissing Bo, our dog, goodbye. They climb into the pick-up

and as it pulls into reverse I see a little red head pop out of the

back window.

 

"Goodbye, Love!" I yell as I wave. "Have fun with Daddy today! I love you!"

"Okay, I will!" she hollers back, then pauses and adds, "I 'yove' you too, Mommy!!"

 

As the truck starts moving down the long drive my hands rise by

themselves to my heart and meet, palm to palm. Jim waves to me out

of his window one last time while Ananda is waving with both hands--

one free, the other holding her yellow duck-- and she is singing

goodbye to me and to Bodhi in the duck's high-pitched voice.

 

They disappear around the curve behind a cloud of dust from the dry

gravel and Bo and I silently watch them go.

 

After a moment I look down to notice that my hands are now resting on

my blooming belly.

 

I feel drunk, with Gratitude.