Smile and Seaweed - Change the World
I was sitting on the beach last week watching the waves
roll in and enjoying the glorious Southern California weather. An adorable
little girl in a cheetah print bikini with a fuchsia flounce walked past –
backward. She almost walked into my chair until her mother gently reminded her
to watch where she was going. When she saw me, I smiled at her – one of those
crinkly-eyed smiles. She was so endearing with her springy hair and chubby
toddler legs.
She paused ever so slightly when I smiled at her and though
she remembered she needed to watch where she was going (by glancing over her
shoulder – behind her) she also kept a curious eye on me as she continued
backward down the beach.
Since I was visiting from the Pacific Northwest, my very
white skin was quickly becoming pink. I spread a towel on the sand in front of
my beach chair and flopped onto my belly – an equal opportunity pinker. I was
completely engrossed in my Kindle book when something fell onto the sand in
front of me.
A single strand of seaweed. I glanced up and the saw the
charming bounce of the fuchsia flounce as the toddler trotted off. My gaze
shifted to her mother who shrugged and said, “A gift for you, I guess.” My
delightful new friend offered a coy smile as she skipped ahead of her mom.
What a sweet story, Kai! I try to live by this philosophy of sharing smiles.
ReplyDeleteI do too. Unfortunately it isn't as common down in So Cal. My niece and I were talking about how strange it is down there for someone to smile or strike up a random conversation in a check out line or something. It made me remember how hard it was for my husband and I to get used to when we moved up to Oregon. "She smiled at me. What does she want?"
DeleteCute story. I try to share smiles whenever I'm out and about doing my errands. You never know when a smile will help brighten someone's day.
ReplyDeleteExactly! You may never know how that smile might impact someone, but they'll know. Thanks for stopping by Susanne.
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