Ice Cream Happiness

Dad and I are in town, and in an effort to prolong going home I take us to McDonald’s for ice cream. I order him an Oreo McFlurry and I get an M&M one. He follows me to a booth, sits down when I do, looks out the window, and looks around.

What are we doing here?

We’re getting ice cream. Take a bite and see if you like it.

Oh really?! We’re just out for ice cream? He takes a spoonful.

Yes. I wanted to get a snack with you. Do you like your ice cream?

Well that’s nice. Yes, I do like this. It’s cold. I’m happy we are out, together.

He looks happy. He’s lively. His eyes focus on things. The blue in his eyes blows around like wind over the ocean, with life. He smiles. He is happy. For this moment he is happy. Each time I remind him to eat his ice cream he is newly surprised by its goodness and I watch another moment of happiness unfold, again. I watch him be happy. We make senseless comments and laugh about them, because we are happy. We share happiness. I remind him we are out for a snack and he is happy about that, again. And I watch each happy moment. We are happy, in this moment.

I enjoy each happy ice cream moment like a thief. I steal them from the darkness and I will remember them for him.