Mei-Ling and Mimi Have An Adventure

Melanie is sleeping . You can hear the relief of having her baby home, in the very steady breath of a sound sleep. Food is in the oven, baking for supper time. Soon Emery and Casi will come through the front door, sunlight to their backs. Both will be hungry. Casi with that hunger all young men seem to have and Emery hungry from work and knowing that the smell of pumpkin bread will greet him.
Things are under control for now. Baby fed and diapered. Clean diapers flapping in the wind on the line. A bit of time to spare. The warm late afternoon sun beckoning me. I want to give this pram a true and honest test.
Mei-Ling seems willing so out the door we head. I am no less than shocked at the reactions we get. There are women who walk to the store with babies in strollers in our area. The utilitarian type buggies. The ones that go from stroller to car seat etc. They hardly turn a head. But this bright red pram, carry cot variety that brings back to mind days of yore when women walked babies for the sheer pleasure of the stroll.
A neighbor was mowing and stopped, she smiled this knowing, long forgotten feeling of, "oh yes, I remember walking my babies decades ago". She waved, a bit of that "where did the years go" look in her eyes. Two young men in a very fancy pick up truck, stopped way before the intersection I needed to cross, waving to tell me to cross. I had the feeling they wanted to jump out and halt any traffic that might approach. I smiled back to them that grandmotherly look. Ahh, I have that look now. It fits well too, like wonderfully comfortable shoes that you care more about how they feel than their looks. My hair piled up on my head, long skirt, sneakers and it was o.k. to look so old fashioned granny type.
Ladies drove past us, smiling.... I got the feeling they wished they had the time for such an outing, such an adventure with a tiny loved one. The reactions to this walk was astonishing.
I also got to hear and see the birds, see the flowers in well tended yards, trees all leaved out, the clouds floating by and breath deeply the fresh air.
Mei-Ling slept soundly, if she was an old man she would have been snoring loudly her sleep was so deep. This pram, has a good ride. The gravel road was smooth sailing for this tiny girl in the red pram.
I got my exercise, and dug my toes deeper into this wonderful new phase of life. It feels good to love a new generation. This walking a baby in a pretty pram is just one of life's better experiences. I feel so completely blessed.
Mei-Ling sleeps still, Bach playing to her on the stereo. Her ears hearing beauty.