Saturday, June 26, 2004
3:29 PM || Eargasm: Elvis Costello - She (from the Notting Hill soundtrack)
So yesterday, I got a small glimpse of parenthood. And you know what? I liked it! Jason and I decided to have a picnic at the park, so we went grocery shopping at Ralph's, then went back to his place to pick up his baby sister, Jade (or Thao-Mi if you wanna be cultural.) A flash of reality hit me as we were attempting to wake her up from her nap. Really, I'd known Jade since she was tiny, when she didn't even know how to speak or walk yet, and now, she was moving around like a normal person! You might think .. well DUH. She's a human being -- just like you and me. But I guess it's just a little strange to see such a fragile baby grow up into the energetic, spontaneous 3-year old that she now is. It's a strange and beautiful thing.
So we went to the park, set up the blankets, picnic basket with all the goodies -- btw, Sav-On is selling an awesome picnic basket equipped with cutlery for only $10 right now -- then set off to start our picnic. And right when we saw the bright, colorful playground, Jade runs off to play with the other kids. It's amazing, a child's endless amount of energy that is. It seemed like she was up to anything! She was, in a sense, fearless.
Oh how I miss those younger years, when everything was an adventure! Life as a kid seems so much more liberating, exhilarating, and full of possibilities. Taking risks without thinking about the consequences. Saying what you want without letting etiquette get in the way. Eager to explore new interests, and pursuing dreams as if nothing else mattered in the world. As we grow older, we learn to be polite in order to protect other people's feelings, to let others take the lead, and to get caught up in fulfilling obligations that we tend to feel guilty about rather than pleasing ourselves. It's really a sad thing, but I guess there are countless ways to reconnect with the confident little kids we once were. I was reading a magazine the other day, and read this quote: "You can't force creativity. But when you allow yourself to be open to it, it will come on its own." That's such a great quote to live by. I think from now on, I will actually allow my curiosities to be deepened and not suppressed by what others might think or say.
Soo as I was saying, it was really interesting watching Jade play at the park, making sure she didn't fall or hurt herself, watching to see if the other kids were being mean to her. All the while, Jason and I would take turns lying down on the blanket as the other watched the baby. The highlight of the day was when Jason and I were lying down on the blanket, and here comes Jade running along and lies down between us, all three staring up into the clear, bright, blue sky. What a beautiful day it was! Thanks Jason! You always know how to make me happy. =D
And I'm off to a weekend of doing .. absolutely nothing but watching movies, reading magazines, shaping up, and staying productive. Have a greeeeeeat weekend everyone!