Written by This morning, as I usually do, I sat at the computer for a few minutes to check email, the newspaper, weather, etc. My daughter, Jacqueline, who will be three years old on Saturday, walked in to see me. She asked if she could sit on my lap in order to help her dress a little doll she had with her. I picked her up and sat her on my knee while I worked on the precise movements needed to make my fingers do the necessary work to get this tiny doll dressed. As I was completing the task Jacqueline talked with me and was pleased with the progress. Finally, she leaned her head against my side, giving my bulky sweatshirt a kiss, and said, “Dad, you are so handsome.” Then she climbed down, said “thank you. Love you,” and scampered off down the hall. On a morning I need a smile, she definitely made me smile.
Theodore, also three on Saturday, made me smile a little bit earlier this morning. When we came downstairs, my son Sebastian was already for school and watching some highlights from last night’s Bruins game. Naturally, all the broadcasts were showing clips of the Garden crowd singing the National Anthem in Boston’s first game since the Boston Marathon Bombings. As soon as Theodore recognized what was on, he turned to me, smiled, and said, “Daddy, it’s your favorite, just like on the iPad.” He and I had sat together watching several versions of the National Anthem over the last couple of days, and he recognized the song. Again, a heart-warming moment with him, and I smiled.