Baby

It's nice to be away from home and to get a longing for the ocean. There are certain things I like about Toronto, but being landlocked is not one of them. Here's what I do like: houses with character, with small but tended yards, big oak and maple trees, a shimmery blue sky and well- worn road underfoot. Streets full of interest and personality, one hole in the wall after another of cool, creative wares; open looks of curiosity from people. A feeling of bustling-ness, lots of brick, lots of small touches of beauty, and (at least in the stretch of W. Queen W.) lots of babies. We ate fish & chips in the park the other day. (Don't remember the last time I had fish & chips - was definitely a little girl, probably on Crescent Beach with my Grandma.) Baby was cooing and reaching for ketchup, his whole being focused on getting and squishing and smearing that ketchup over us all. Tree and birds' chorus about us. Happy people lying on the grass everywhere, sun-smitten. Later, in a playground - Baby's rapt exploration of every inch of wood & metal, delight in other children, big 6-toothed grin going down the slide. Back at the house, following baby up and down and all around, him crawling like a steam-engine, peek a boo-ing to distract him from everything he wants to put in his mouth. Big brown deep wise solemn eyes, skin like powdered silk, and strong tiny hands.

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