There are thousands of them. All the little strings that connect us together, as a family, as friends, as individuals. Small gestures. Inside jokes. "Remember when...?"
The shared smile of remembered speed when Cole and I speak of roller coasters. The way I mess with Gerald as he's getting ready for bed. Asking my dad about the weather and my mom about her projects. Referring to my boss as "Mr. Rogers" - as in the cardigan wearing icon of our youth. Having Austin sit on my lap for stories, even though he's definitely too tall to see around anymore. Those things are glue.
Most of the time I don't even notice them. As natural as breathing, they just ARE. Sometimes I notice them in the past tense. Things I used to have, but are no more. The misspelled love notes in church. Gathering slobbery kisses from around the table before I left for work. They bound us together for a time.
Then they were gone. And that's okay! They were replaced by other gestures and shared experienced. Newer. Different. Better.
Today I saw one and I recognized it for what it was. So neat. So simple. It happened twice and I could almost touch the connection. Made my soul smile. We were running late and I drove Tyler to the bus stop. I wished him a good day as he left the car. He took a few steps, turned back, and waved. It made me grin as I waved back. I didn't think about it again until tonight when I dropped him off at youth group. He did it again and that time I really saw it. Eyes swimming, throat thick, I heard this beautiful child saying all those things that a pre-teen will not voice.
That little thing, that he probably didn't think about, was so very strong.
I need a picture of him waving to seal this in my memory. I'll stage one later. :)
