The sun was sinking low into the sky, casting a warm golden light across our backyard. It was well past L.A.’s bedtime, but I sat on the cool concrete of our driveway indian style with P2 propped in my lap. C sat next to me, his legs sprawled out and our shoulders touching as we watched L.A. playing while the evening ticked away. L.A. was driving his Cozy Coupe all around, periodically getting out to come over and dole out kisses to all of us before gleefully turning around, a smile on his face, saying “buh bye” as he waved his chubby little hand furiously and pretended to drive off.
I felt a twinge of guilt as my to do list ran through my head… there were a thousand things I could and should be doing, but in that moment I wanted nothing more to be sitting there with my little family soaking it all in. So we did, we sat as the cool breeze began to blow, a reminder that the summer has come to an end. I looked over to C with a lump in my throat and realized that when I imagined my life, I never took into account these tiny moments that would mean so much. A night that wasn’t eventful in any way other than to remind me how lucky we are.
I wanted to grab my camera, to prop it up and take a picture of all of us as we were in that one moment. I looked around for a place to set things up and started planning the image in my head. Just as I was ready to get up and get it, P2 spit up all down my arm and snapped me back to reality. So the picture remains untaken, and the image will only live in my head, but it will be one that I take out often as I head back to my 9-5 tomorrow. The four of us, on a quiet, content, and perfectly simple cool summer night.
