ZinterInk

Amazing how we take so many things for granted in our lives. Things that we learned how to do long before our normal memories began. Walking, running, jumping and any other type of movement that we learned in the first years of life. Making noises and turning them into words, then finally associating those words with what they actually mean. We use these movements and sounds everyday without even a second thought to how difficult it was for us once upon a time. I watched Ayden try and say "daddy" for the first time very recently. This to me was the first actual try at making sounds do something in particular for him, before this everything was just noise. I always try to get him to say it, especially to get him to say it before "mommy" comes out. Never expecting anything remotely like "daddy" to come out I looked down and beckoned him to say it. With a look of extreme thought and effort he scrunched up his little face and stared at me. After a few seconds of this he started to move his lips and with all the vocal energy he could muster let out the word. Not a perfectly pronounced "daddy", but certainly close enough to be understood. I mean seriously, I have heard worse english out of full grown adults. I am sure some of this could have been due to my wanting to hear that particular word, of course, but all in all it was another amazing moment I will never forget. I can't remember how I learned my first words, or least of all what they were, but I will always remember his and cherish the memory for the rest of my life.

Two things that always make me just shake my head are fortune cookies and horoscopes. Cheesy and vague fortune cookies that never hold any knowledge or insight. About the best you can hope for are some lucky numbers to win the lottery with and share with all the other people who honestly believe those were "their" lucky numbers. Then there are horoscopes. Random statements accompanied by a simple little star gauge to help me better realize how bad of a day I already had. I mean really, what does this mean.... "A part of your past involving a female relative or some female energies becomes a pressing matter. Part of you wants to pull the covers over your head, but go deep. You'll come out of this with a new point of view." Interesting how vague but yet easily relevant this can be. Amazing. I tip my hat to you, oh mighty quip writers.

I am more and more as time goes on amazed by change. Most of this realization has to do with a small child I am able to call my own. This child may only be about 8 months old but I have seen more change in him during this time than I feel I have noticed in everything else my entire life. He started as this little flushed and wrinkled little body with eyes full of the wonder of what lies ahead. Barely able to move and unaware of what life has in store, something that will last until the end of his days. Since then, he has grown into this little two foot person full of energy and attitude. Not the bad attitude of a teenager, but the good attitude showing a wanting for experience and adventure. An attitude and outlook on life that is also amazing. He has learned to do so many things in such a short amount of time. This again is amazing. I could go on but I will let this one rest, moving forward in life and waiting for more change.