Unpacking Baggage

Just going through my luggage, clearing out some things to make way for enlightenment

... what it was like to be an infant.

I've taken to riding the bus to work in the morning, partly because there is never parking at work and at this point I refuse to support oil interests by pulling up to the pumps until gas falls to a price somewhere between reasonable and "ouch!. I'll make better use of my dollars by riding the transit system and perhaps giving them the incentive to improve services.

Riding the bus has actually been a pleasant experience. Along with the peace of mind that comes from not having to deal with my fellow assholes on the road. I've actually had the opportunity to observe people, strike up some interesting conversations and help a few folks along the way. Today I observed a baby, somewhere between three and seven months old. I didn't ask because my spanish is real rusty and I couldn't be sure the mother spoke english. I really need to brush up on my spanish. I'm sure I could probably get out, "Cuanto anos," or something like that, but I'm terrified that the response would be something that would leave me standing there with that look that non native speakers of english have when english speakers rattle off questions at them. I completely fear the thought of looking stupid. I need to get over that too.

Anyway... I found myself facinated by this baby because he was so clearly developing right before my eyes. He was in one of those carriers with a handle that allows the infant to be toted as if in a basket. The baby kept trying to reach for the handle and was clearly frustrated by his failed attempts so he gave up on the handle and started trying to insert foot in mouth. One day he will be able to do it figuratively with no effort. As he got his toes near his mouth, his mother would pull the foot away, again making the baby frustrated. And I thought, 'Girl, let the child chew on the foot. It's not like he's been walking anywhere.' He persisted until he, at least, got the laces untied. Finally... something to chew on.

I sincerely wish I could recall those first months when everything was brand new. You were doing EVERYTHING for the first time. Your caregiver would hold and feed you until fell asleep. When you got hungry again, all you had to do was cry. If you had to go to the bathroom, you didn't have to look for one. It must have been WONDERFUL!