Hello Sunshine!

Ella easily passed the time today in the park just outside our local library...2 hours in fact. The tiny playground was packed. Kids smelling of sunshine were kicking up sand and making new friends. Parents, moms and dads alike, sat on benches playing referee while juggling phone calls. The beautiful weather made the constant re-directions tolerable for everyone. "Say thank you", "play nice", "don't throw sand". It was typical Oak Park with parents speaking Mandarin, Arabic and the emotionally in-tuned, politically correct language of the 2009 Robo-Parent. I felt right at home. I sat down next to Ella and aside from the gentle reminders not to eat sand, enjoyed the scene in silence. If this is a flavor of what summer has to offer, I can't wait for it to officially begin.