Smitten

I was alone with the kids for a good part of the weekend. Something that often strikes panic in my heart. I've been spoiled. J. hasn't had to travel much in the last year or two. That's starting to change again though...he has several trips coming up.

Yesterday, after swimming lessons, I took Fruit Bat and Kitty Cat downtown to see a free concert by the Seattle Men's Chorus. I didn't expect to introduce my children to Drag so soon in their young lives. (Or at all.) But they were marginally entertained. I thought it was pretty fun.

I packed the day full (consciously or not, I don't know). So full we were all exhausted by the end of it. So full that Fruit Bat and Kitty Cat were sprawled across my bed watching Max & Ruby and eating Happy Meals while I sipped a glass of white wine and inhaled a hamburger. And it was all we could manage.

The sweetest, most breathtaking moment of the day for me was not, as you might imagine, taking this photo of my littles holding hands and watching the International fountain at the Seattle Center. Though that was nice, too. It was standing in the checkout line at Target waiting for Fruit Bat to pay for three small things he was purchasing. Just the day before he'd loaded his wallet with money for the first time (in the past he's always lugged his coins and bills around in a Ziploc or his pockets).

Anyway, he was taking forever and I got distracted trying to pull Kitty Cat away from the candy display. Finally a line started to form behind us.

"What are you doing?" I asked, exhaling impatiently. Then I looked down at his small, seven-year-old boy fingers rifling through his wallet's pockets and compartments. There were two crumpled dollars (not enough to pay for what he was buying). There were also: rocks, Sweettarts, a piece of gum, a marker, and a folded drawing. Those were things he thought would be handy to keep on his person.

GOD, it was so sweet. It breaks my heart just writing it.

I paid for his trinkets, with the understanding that he'd pay me back when we got home. And I fell a little more deeply in love with my boy.

 

Comments

[kcinnova]

♥

[Bev @ Meandering]

Always beautiful...observations and writing.

[m]

Those are moments that make life itself worthwhile. Treasures!

[Whimsy]

I have to tell you, I read this post last night and I keep thinking about that image: your son's wallet holding his treasures. Such a wonderfully bittersweet moment - thank you so much for sharing it.

[All Adither]

Thank YOU. The most precious part of the whole thing was the expression on his face. He was stupefied, totally confused as to where his money was.

[Cactus Petunia]

What a sweet, sweet image! Thanks for taking me back to that time in my own kids' lives!

[Carrie]

It's these, the tiny little mostly unnoticed, that you capture so very well.