Adventures at Rasa Ranch #124

[Guest guest]

8/16/03 "Tender Leaves"

 

Yesterday we went to a children's festival at our town's park. There

was a huge flurry of activity with people of all ages moving about,

costumes, crafts, entertainers and more. I had completely lost

myself in the excitement of it all until I became aware that there

had been a slow crescendo of complaints coming from the little guy in

the baby backpack.

 

I quickly chose a "quiet" spot beneath a tree to the side, laid his

plump body across my lap, and lifted one side of my shirt as the

bubbling river of youth-energy rambled right by us. The moment the

baby and I were face to face, it was as if all time came to a halt.

Somehow his happy eyes were so still! All that existed for me right

then was a vast silence in the form of the two of us looking at each

other in an instant that seemed to stretch itself to eternity.

 

He nursed a bit and then paused. His eyes traveled upward, and his

face broke into a smile. He reached and pointed one puffy baby

finger into the air and sang out a joyful "Aaaaaaa." I tilted my

head down and to the side, resting my temple on his forearm and

gazing along the line of his finger so that I could see what it was

that delighted him so. On first glance, all that was apparent to me

was a high umbrella of leaves. But then I started to notice how very

green they were, being exquisitely lit up from behind in the late

afternoon sun. And I noticed how the breeze was tenderly kissing

them, causing them to just barely brush against one another in a

gentle dance that I am certain I have never seen before in all of my

life! "Aaaaah," I answered back with enthusiasm, and when I glanced

back at him he acknowledged our mutual wonder with a big and shiny

two-toothed grin.

 

I am not quite sure how long we were actually seated there beneath

that tree, but refreshed and renewed, we were definitely not the same

when the time came for us to leap back into the swiftly running

current of the festival.