Today I Had a Norman Rockwell Moment

I was driving to the doctor’s office early in the morning

Photo by Ben Wicks on Unsplash

I had an early morning doctor’s visit the other day. I left my house before the sun was fully up and awake. The sky was gray and dull, with a mix of rain, snow and sleet predicted. My head hurt. It was far too early for this old lady to be up and about, moving through the town.

I passed our local reservoir, noting the icy coating on the water and the drooping branches of the trees. My headache thumped and I felt a deep desire to go back home to my dogs, my tea pot and my toasty living room.

With a deep sigh and an expression that I wouldn’t accept from a child, I guided my old car up the road and into the center of town.

And I passed a scene that caught my breath.

I drove past it almost before I could process what I was seeing. Almost, but not quite.

As I passed in my aging car, with my aging body and my aging mood, I somehow noticed the entire scene. And my hear soared, to be both cliched and honest.

I passed a group of little children, most likely between the ages of 5 and 10. The kids were laughing. They wore brightly colored hats and jackets and as I saw their faces flashing by, I noted the wildly free grins on every face. They…