I am a regular at Peet's in SF on Chestnut where I can do my writing. I realized today it's fueled in some way by the infants and toddlers I see there.
I love:
The amazement when the babies see the plants on the wall and their eyes grow WIDE
The happiness when a child gets chocolate milk
The despair then happiness when the straw goes all the way into the chocolate milk box and mom or dad come to the rescue
The tenderness when a mom is waiting for coffee and her baby's eyes catch her eyes and she leans in to softly share her love
The joy when a child skips alongside the parents or dances alone while they wait for their coffee
The disbelief when a daughter tells me she is 2 years old and I tell them I have a daughter who is 22 (ok not disbelief because I look young, just like the disbelief of somebody who is 22 years old and is a daughter)
The desire when a young child is at eye level with the food and drinks the fridge below the cashier and wants EVERYTHING (including stuff that I'm certain they wouldn't like)
As much as I love all of this, this is my favorite. I love the progression:
I catch eyes with a baby
The baby stops all movement and stares right into my soul
I break into a huge smile
The baby doesn't know what to make of it
The baby looks up at mom or dad for..... guidance I guess
I smile widely at the baby again
The baby scrunches into a ball, parent notices sees I'm safe and says "Are you being shy?"
I look away for a bit turn back and the baby is staring right at me
I break into a huge smile
The baby starts to feel it's ok and a smile breaks all over the baby's face
Now we're connected
I go back to my writing and notice the baby leaving
As the baby leaves, the baby leans out of the stroller to look back one last time before moving on with life
It's unparalleled genuine connection.
From time to time I worry about the world and these experiences tell me to stop worrying and get back to paying attention.
Bringing new children into the world is an overt sign of real hope that will always overcome any kind of despair.
Thank you all for bringing your kids. For the love of Peet's keep doing it!
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