Everyone has favorite memories. This picture captures one of mine.
This was Matthew's first birthday. Matthew was busy exploring the yard from the new vantage point of becoming a walker. He noticed everything. Grass. Pinecones. Leaves. Everything looked new and more interesting looking down on them.
Plus
Grandparents were coming for a birthday party. I brought down a broom to sweep the patio. Matt was on his own (right at my feet).
I didn't notice the magic at first. Nope - I didn't realize anything was different, but Matthew did.
While I swept the patio, pulled out the grill, unfolded lawn chairs, Matt was engrossed in a corner next to the steps. Then I heard it. Matt was talking. No not talking to me, but to something in the corner. When I crept over to see just what was so interesting, I heard him again.
"Meow. Meow."
There was no cat.
There was no kitten.
Nope there wasn't a dog either.
Ants. A row of ants.
Matthew was talking to ants with the only animal "words" he knew. "Meow." He had learned his animal language playing with a friend who lived next door. She knew how to talk animal because she had a cat.
Matthew has forgotten how to "talk animal" now. Lots of people forget as they grow older.
