The Paddleboat Father

At first glance you may think this post is

about Sisters, family love or loyal friends

Perhaps a beautiful Canadian sunset on Georgian Bay

And it was all that

and so much more

But then upon further visual investigation

you begin to see a narrative of 

tenderness, adoration and memory making

Bonding, imprinting, spirituality

A lesson in nature

A quiet experience to recall in the future

It was a private, most certainly 

A time between Father and Child

or Uncle and niece

or Brother and Sister

It was serene

It was a floating testament to love

We, the girls on the shore

Silhouetted in pink sunshine

melted

There were more oohs and ahhs

that drowned out the distance loon calls

We were mesmerized

We felt like peeping lake Toms

Shushing each other

and whispering ooey-gooey words

We actually could not believe 

just how adorable and blissful

this on-the-water dance was

What was this 'Paddleboat Father' doing?

It was as though he was granting 

his tiny Princess 

some almost impossible wish

A request

and then....

a symphony of 

GASPS

echoed across the rippled golden surface

we sighed in unison

Le Sigh

Oh My God!

He paddled to the water's edge

to pick a delicate flower for her

Bending over to regally present it to her

Unbelievable

Was there a camera hidden in the reedy ridge?

A cinematic Director

speaking into his ear

while they filmed this joyful event?

We stood frozen in disbelief

and marveled at his pure kindness

in his gentle botanical offering

This was and would be a defining moment

in this small child's life

We hoped she would remember

and if not

we hoped that the 

Paddleboat Father

would somehow find his way

to this blog

to save the images

so that some day

he could remind her 

Show her his love

over and over and over again

It wasn't hurried

or frenetic

It wasn't noisy or anxious

She was tranquil

So comfortable

So trusting

So innocent

Noiselessness

It was a stillness of heart

as the ball of fire dropped into the horizon

A steadfast and true promise

As day follows night

He loves her

We'll leave my calling card on your windshield

If you are here reading this

We applaud you

You gave us hope that great men exist

Who do small things with purposeful intention

Men who will raise confident girls

into nature-loving strong women

The power of a flower

The power of a lullaby lake at sunset

The power of a Paddleboat Father

Patti Friday, reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'