recidivi5t

i was walking back from the hospital. there was this tiny kid with his mom and dad, wearing a big red winter hat, and red mittens and a red scarf. he held his mother's hand and in the other, he held a pinwheel, spinning in the breeze, the metallic fins catching the morning sun. he was pointing at a plastic santa attached to the ladder of a firetruck parked out front. that's when i caught his face. it was lavender, the skin seemed thin, blood vessels just underneath, barely containing the swollen tissue sagging his cheeks below his little chin. he had no eyebrows. he couldn't really speak, but he was smiling. his parents were saying, 'look! it's santa!' the firemen noticed his interest in their vehicle. one of them said, 'hey tommy, show the kid the rig'. soon, he was being lifted onto the big red truck, ecstatic, pinwheel still flying around and around. and as i walked by, i realized how lucky i am, and how beautiful and incredibly short life can be. i got a few yards down the sidewalk past the scene, then sat on the low marble wall that lines the hospital and shed a few tears for a minute or two, laughing at myself in between sobs for being such a drama queen. and then i floated home.

this has been the best year of my life. see you around.