my heritage

for about an hour i had
a young inquisitive visitor.
(his parents and grandpa
were doing some work
on our house.)
he arrived after school
and proudly told his 
grandpa he moved up a
reading level!
after some playing outside
he was in to sit and chat.

while his busy hands
twisted the fringe on my afghan
i heard about "the beat".
"i can do it outside."
and he demonstrated
clap stomp clap stomp.
although it didn't sound
as good as in the gym
full of kids he said.

i tell him about the squirrel
that stood up on hind feet,
hands splayed peering
in my big picture window
looking for the birdseed i
brought inside to keep
mr. squirrel out of it!

soon we are watching 
the backyard birds dine.
birds swoop in perching
on the dried flower stems
waiting in line for their turn.
the blue jays colors catch our eye
as it zips about in the evergreen trees.
i get the binoculars for easier 
identification of other birds.
we see finches, sparrows and 
chickadees.

so much enjoyment i'm getting
from life via a first grade boy. 
all too soon the work is done
and off they go.

and i think fondly of my mom.

she would have done the same thing...
and her mom who did too.
and my aunti who still does.

i think that's a mighty fine
heritage to have.