My Lonely City

I got to hold a baby today. Cheryl, the morning receptionist at our office, just became a grandmother, and her daughter brought their five-day-old up to the office today. Cheryl brought him back to Deborah’s office and then – blow me away – asked if I wanted to hold him. If?!? Of course, I said I’d love to. And I did. Evan. He was beautiful. He would stretch a bit, put his mittenned hands over his eyes or ears, and wrinkle his face up. He’d purse his lips and bunch his chin, curl his toes under, arch his back against my arm. He’d relax, snuggled in my arms, his face toward my chest. I held him and hummed to him. I held him in our office for a few minutes, then carefully carried him up to the front, where I met his mother & father, who were lovely people. We talked, and I was able to keep holding him for another fifteen minutes or so, until my bottom arm’s wrist started to cramp and I thought I ought to give him back.

It helped.

In further news – news in the sense of sad – my in-laws had to put their dog Sadie to sleep today. Jared & I went over to their house last night to say goodbye; Jared had picked her out when she was a puppy.

Maybe she and Pi can look after each other while they wait for us.