Monday, November 15, 2010

So. Pas Street Intersection is Witness to Pure Joy

A week ago I was sitting with Andrew at one of my favorite places in South Pasadena, on a beautiful sunny day with a chilled breeze. He'd just had major mouth surgery where two infected teeth were pulled out, so we were sitting outside basking in the fabulous weather and drinking down milkshakes. I look over and I witness a moment of pure joy.

On the street corner about 20 feet from us are two older people, at least in their 60s but fit looking. The grandfather looks down and sees his grandson nestled at his legs, arms outstretched with a yearning to be picked up. The kid is about five or six and his glee at wanting to be in his grand dad's arms is overtaking his body, making him smile and bounce on the arches of his feet like a buoy in an incoming ocean tide. He arches his back with excitement, reminding me of the way a cat arches it's back when it is pet at the base of it's tail, luxuriating in one of it's favorite places to be scratched. With such ease, the tall grandfather cuddles the boy into this arms and places him under his chin, against his broad chest as Grandma watches on. She gently grabs the little boy's hand and then embraces her partner and their grandson, with nothing but love brimming to the edges of their family hug.

So entranced with this moment of sheer joy and love, I tap Andrew. "Ohhh, you gotta look at this." He looks and smiles as I gush about how cute this all is. And the moment is frozen in time, as if every movement is in slow motion, the traffic whizzing by at this busy intersection fades to a sepia shade as I see nothing but this happy family and the bank building behind them. I'm glad I was here to witness it. The Fosselman's ice cream milkshakes weren't bad either.