I Ran By...

I ran by your school this morning, on a sunny, crisp fall day. I thought you might have recess and I was right.

Out of school boomed a happy little girl in a fuzzy pink coat. She found me quickly (oddly) against the fence, waving and smiling.

I fended off thoughts that I looked like a creepy stalker. I loved every minute.

"Mom! Why are you here? Are you running?"

"Yes! And I realized you might be here so I thought I'd stop for a kiss!"

We kissed through the fence. We laughed.

"See Mom? I told you I wear my coat on the playground!"

"I see that! I believed you! Well...I guess I'll go now."

"O.k. Mom! See you after!"

A friend asked her for help and, in a motherly tone, she started to help him find something lost and important to him.


And I ran away from the school, fighting back tears.
Not because I was sad to leave you, but because I was so dang proud of you.
I love you, Luce.