I went over to a friend's house this evening for the first time in probably a year or more. His children have grown appreciably, now ranging in age from about 18 months to 7 years. The younger two, both still toddlers, spent the entire evening screeching and gabbling nonsense at an unholy volume as they pattered around the apartment, chasing one another or being persecuted by their older brother. I had a technical task that I was working on, and I did not watch them through any of this, but the sound about drove me mad.
Then, as I was leaving, I took a moment not only to say goodbye to my friend and his wife, but to these two deafening blond ricochets with their wide eyes and plump cheeks.
As is often the case with children of that age, they clammed up entirely as soon as a strange adult began to address them. Clearly, they found me novel and entertaining, but just as clearly, they did not know what to make of me, and stood with breathless infant wonder on their faces, waiting to see whether I would do something terrifying or hilarious.
With their howls subdued, I could see them at last for the beautiful, joyful creatures they were, and could understand that they had been those same creatures even as they had been producing every grotesque racket that might come out of a three-year-old throat over the course of an evening.
The human animal is an amazing, wild, nerve-wracking, transcendent thing.
Thank you, goddess of love, for every demonstration of that fact that you give to me.
Lovingly yours,
A devotee
8 comments:
Hello, Devotee.
I just wanted to come by and thank you for your kind words about my 55.
It meant a lot to me.
I have been sitting here reading through some of your blog just now and I find it so tranquil and peaceful and that's a pretty rockin' feeling for me to have right now.
So, thank you for that too.
Thanks, Strumpet. It's nice to be appreciated!
I never quite know as I'm writing these entries whether anyone's reading, and of course that's not the main point anyway. Still, a major goal of mine is to make the world at least a tiny bit happier and more pleasant, and I'm always grateful for signs that I've succeeded in even a small way.
I hope the peace and tranquility stick with you for a good while.
You've succeeded.
I've just read through a few more of your posts.
Colour me deeply intrigued, because I am.
I especially liked your post about the dream with the girl with the cool name.
Coolness. I like that post too -- I wish I could remember how that name was pronounced, and especially how her hair smelled. It's too bad dreams don't have a "Save As..." function.
How amazing would that be?
Maybe then I could fall asleep for a longer length of time if I could choose the dream that would inhabit my slumber from a list of favourites.
Someone should write a story about that. I'm busy with the third novel in a trilogy, so I volunteer you.
Ha!
That would make an interesting tale, for sure.
Maybe I can work on that while I'm computer-less.
I hope to be back online again soon. I'm sure to either get mine fixed, or borrow my brother's again cos the laptop DT's can get pretty bad some days.
I have so very much enjoyed meeting you in the Land of Blog.
And I will be thinking of you and your words of love and kindness.
Be well, Devotee. I will be back to visit with you soon.
I have enjoyed meeting you too, and I await your return with the patience that anything worth anticipating deserves!
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