I was going to write about this child who got lost and how, although he seemed pretty sanguine about it (you know, ignorance is bliss), it was heart-wrenching for me. I was feeling the anguish of his parents or at least, the anguish that I would have felt had my child gone missing for 5 minutes let alone forty minutes and then some.
And I couldn't help feeling both grateful that the child (about two and a half to three) was oblivious of his situation as well as how terrified and alone I'd be feeling as a child if I'd had the misfortune to be clued in. Know what I mean?
I waited some forty minutes as I watched one of the girls from the park management team keep this tiny angel company (or was it the other way around?), distract him by talking to him and making up games to play, all of which he took to with the calm and decorum of someone who knew no fear. Oh, how I wish I could be as calm and unperturbed when unexpected or undesirable things happen to me.
Okay, it's true, I'm a lot more calm and relaxed about most things and I tend to be more so when others around me get into a bit of flap. But there are times when the entire world is spinning out of control inside me though you'd never know it on the outside. Well, perhaps I exaggerate. Perhaps it's not quite as out of control as I seem to think it is. Perhaps it's just my fear that it is. This mind can get pretty conflicted sometimes, you know?
So, despite changing my mind about what I was going to write, I have managed to tell the original story and I find that I've no where else to go with it. It's been told, it's done and I'm glad I've got it out of my system.
Now, for a not so subtle change of direction, did I ever mention how much I love the blues? I really, really love the blues, especially blues rock. I wish I had a scratchy, blues voice or a deep mama voice. I have neither. Not that those are the only voices that can sing the blues well, just that I kinda wish I could sing 'em like that :)
Right, am not even sure why I've started talking about the blues. Could it be because I'm listening to a cool blues program that's on the radio just now? :) Or the fact that I'm so looking forward to my guitar lesson/session tomorrow with a local muso whose blues style I just love?
Anyhow, I best call it quits here before I drive myself and you insane with this unremarkable drift...apologies if its been irksome. But if it prompts you to share your thoughts, please do. I always love reading other people's drift :)
PS Oh, how could I not write about this part of the story?
The park girl assured me that a crew was going around looking for the parents. Still, I really didn't want to leave without the assurance that the child and his parents were reunited. So I held this intention - I just want to know that it's going to happen soon because there's already been too much suffering (on the part of the parents, at least).
Instead of making my way back towards the bridge which would take me to the city - it was after seven and dark - I started walking back into the park. Well, I hadn't gone a few meters when I saw two women, their faces filled with an anguish that was not yet ready to go, and a security man who was leading them in the direction of the child.
My heart just soared way over the clouds that had been lingering around it and I called out to the women, "Your child is safe. He's right over there!"
I floated along that bridge and home that night :)
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