Running alongside the stroller with him. He’s still so small as to face backwards in the infant car seat propped into it. We are en route to pick up his sister from preschool. I try to position myself in such a way as to block the sun from his eyes. He smiles his heaven-sent smile at me and, as babies and children do so well, he holds his gaze.

What does he see?

This moment: a crisp-yet-warm enough afternoon, early in winter. Autumn-colored leaves on the tree branches and bushes that whizz by at the periphery of his vision. In the center, his Baba’s smiling face, ringed by the corona of the sun.

He continues to smile, sublime.

I think: remember this look on his face.

I think: there will be a time when his anger at me (disappointment; resentment) will be as bright as the sun behind me. As bright as his smile is now.

I think: without a doubt. But right now — in this moment — I am as close to perfect as I will ever be. (So are we both.)

Okay, so first you have to open this link, which opens a new window. Wait to be sure that “play” has been engaged, leave the window open, and then get back to this window. (Sorry about the hullabaloo — I still don’t know how to rig up this blog to embed .wav files.)

Now. While your association with that deathless tune might be this Dawn of Man moment from Kubrick’s sci-fi classic, I want to submit as an equally dramatic association the following series of breathtaking images:

Huh? Huh?

You will note the contrast from this series here, from just a bit over three months ago. Not like he has less schmutz on his face (indeed, he has more!). But lord love me I have less on my fingers.

I don’t have the heart to tell him that there is, in fact, a business end of the spoon.