It does not take much to impress me.  People who can tie their shoes are worthy of my hero worship.  The dude at Subway who puts the perfect amount of olives on my Cold Cut Trip often gets an awkward ten second gaze of appreciation from me through the plastic bubble that keeps his universe from colliding with mind.  The woman who walks around the lake everyday at Lions Park is someone who gets the mental high five from me whenever I witness her navigating the all too dangerous doggie yuck yucks that litter the path.

It is easy for me to become your fan.  You just have to do something that I know I would have a hard time with.  This admittedly leaves me be amazed by just about any human who can operate a lawn mower without starting the lawn on fire.

I compare myself to folks and wonder if I could ever walk in their slippers for a few moments to accomplish what they are doing.  Usually my answer is "Heck no".  Their are scripts of Two and a Half Men with less flaws than I have....so it is an everyday occurrence for me to see someone who really impresses me with something they do.

Today I witnessed something so quick and beautiful that I know my pudgy fingers and this keyboard will not do it justice.

As I was walking back to the car after dropping my son off at pre-school I was drawn into a small moment of time between what I think was a father and son.  My attention was drawn because a young child who was around seven and was trying to clap his hands while grunting loudly at the gentleman that I am assuming was his daddy.  The child was in a wheelchair and the dad was working the van door of his car to it open.  The child was obviously extremely physically handicapped because when it looked like it took every ounce of strength to smack both of his hands together to create the faint clapping sound.

Right away I felt bad for that father.  How hard would it be to be him?  To have a child who had so many obstacles and struggles would be an enormous strain on any good daddy's heart.  While watching the scene unfold before me while I walked back to my car I felt the shower of pity fall over me for that family.  I know what it is like to care for a child who is considered by the world at large to be different.  I know what it is like to feel uncomfortable in public places because I am certain that judging eyes rain down upon us.  I know the path that father is walking...to a point.  I knew that his road must be wrought with many more heartaches than mine.  So I felt it fair that he deserved my pity...

Turns out I think I deserve his.

In a quick moment while his chair-bound son was clapping and attempting to call for him I saw the father turn around.  He did not wear the gaze of a man who is heartbroken or worried for his child.  Adorned on this gentleman's face was a smile that is it cut anymore across his face would tickle his earlobes.  With a swooping motion his arms snuck under his little boys waist and in a flash he scooped him up into the air.  My brain immediately turned on it's Tivo and started to record...

As his laughing, grunting, clapping son collapsed into his arm I saw the father kiss him on the forehead with such absolute tenderness.  It was not the kiss of a father who deserves my pity.  It was the kiss from a father who deserves my praise.  He taught me what I know but forget everyday of my life.  That love should never ever come with conditions.  I was also clubbed over the head by the universe to remember that I need to find more of the things I admire in others in myself.  This was a man who was bathed in complete joy and love and was cradling his little boy like the treasure that he is.  I felt like big tool for letting myself trying to impose my baggage on those two souls who were designed to fill each other with moments like I got to witness.

I have so much to learn.  At least I know that much.  And like GI Joe taught me after school years ago:  "Knowing is Half The Battle".

I have had a creative fog on my brain as of late.  It has been difficult to write anything lately.  I just wrote some sketches for Ozymandian Theater last week and it took every ounce of my being to get it done.  I am in a dark night of my creative soul...and I think while I am still in the heart of it I had to break through to record what I saw today.