One of my favorite observations at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens today was a family of three— they appeared to be a mom, a dad and a toddler.
The mother parked the stroller while the father placed a yellow soccer ball on the grass and then both called over to the little one. The little one, with both hands up in the air, ran towards it— ran in the way that toddlers sometimes run— seemingly too fast and appearing just slightly out of the control of their small bodies. Then this little one reached the ball and executed a bit of fancy footwork that I was totally not expecting— especially for one so young. But later, when I saw the father free styling with the ball, I had my questions answered.
The exuberance with which the little one ran for that ball and the commitment to play? My experience of pleasant surprise at the little one’s skills? Seeing a family engaging in a display of love? Being buffeted on all sides by a brisk invigorating wind shower on my way to the BBG? And the gift of this beautiful day at the BBG? All of it. All. Of. It. Made my heart beam.
