(no subject)
One of my favourite things to do when I'm out and have to wait for something, is to sit out in public and just watch people. I love watching and analyzing them, wondering what they're thinking, what they're really doing. Is the single mother over on the left path, swinging the arm of her child as they skip along, really thinking about the joys of motherhood? Is she thinking ahead to the list of a thousand and one other things she needs to do today? That quirk in her lips, is she thinking about a stolen moment for herself where she kissed the tongue right out of a really brilliant bloke? And what about the elderly couple, arm and arm and smiling each to themselves. Are the celebrating fifty years of marriage? Have they just met? Are they each hoping this nice walk will just end so that they can go back to their own private places where everything is about ritual and independence? There's a jogger gone by. What is he thinking? And those two girls twittering and giggling abound. Do they really mean all the mean taunts they speak?
I've been caught watching before by another. An older lady who comes out to the park I enjoy; she moved from her bench to mine, leaned in and whispered in a conspiring voice: "I bet that one there is wondering what that squishy something they just stepped in was, and where's the closest place they can wipe it off without looking suspicious." I still meet up with that gem every now and again and we'll sit together and watch the people go by and the children playing in the sand.
Yesterday I was doing it in my own backyard. See, you don't have to go far to start wondering what each creature is thinking. Does the caterpillar think after more than the leaf he's munching on. What about the dogs? Is it a simple "The sun is warm, the grass is cool. I'm happy, there goes my tail." or is more complicated? Are his lazy eyes really annoyed as they turn my way and he thinks a disgruntled "Bleeding tosser would you stop staring at me?! Don't be expecting any sort of tricks in this heat. I'll make you roll over before I do!"
I asked my son what he was thinking of when at last he'd finished his great adventure in the soil and flopped back to just stare up at the sky. He answered with a soft little sigh, and I was suddenly reminded of how much older he seems than his age sometimes. "Santa Claus" was his answer. Santa Claus, and while one minute I was wondering how he grew up so fast, the next I'm hoping he never does, and wanting to pull him up against my chest to hide him from the world because when was the last time the world was so innocent and easy that you could stop to think of something so simple and carefree as Santa Claus or candy without having your thoughts tugged astray?
Think about it.
I've been caught watching before by another. An older lady who comes out to the park I enjoy; she moved from her bench to mine, leaned in and whispered in a conspiring voice: "I bet that one there is wondering what that squishy something they just stepped in was, and where's the closest place they can wipe it off without looking suspicious." I still meet up with that gem every now and again and we'll sit together and watch the people go by and the children playing in the sand.
Yesterday I was doing it in my own backyard. See, you don't have to go far to start wondering what each creature is thinking. Does the caterpillar think after more than the leaf he's munching on. What about the dogs? Is it a simple "The sun is warm, the grass is cool. I'm happy, there goes my tail." or is more complicated? Are his lazy eyes really annoyed as they turn my way and he thinks a disgruntled "Bleeding tosser would you stop staring at me?! Don't be expecting any sort of tricks in this heat. I'll make you roll over before I do!"
I asked my son what he was thinking of when at last he'd finished his great adventure in the soil and flopped back to just stare up at the sky. He answered with a soft little sigh, and I was suddenly reminded of how much older he seems than his age sometimes. "Santa Claus" was his answer. Santa Claus, and while one minute I was wondering how he grew up so fast, the next I'm hoping he never does, and wanting to pull him up against my chest to hide him from the world because when was the last time the world was so innocent and easy that you could stop to think of something so simple and carefree as Santa Claus or candy without having your thoughts tugged astray?
Think about it.