the wonder of little boys

This morning while reading this post, I was touched by the images of discovery and childlikeness. While in Paris, in addition to dog stalking which sounds reasonably odd, I was also drawn to child watching (which I realize could move from "odd" to downright creepy in many contexts ☺.) Not to worry, however, I was most touched by the sense of wonder in the children I observed. Sue's post included this special T.S. Eliot quote:

We shall not cease from exploration,
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.

So, I am sharing a few of my Paris children (all little boys). I have not included the girls because today I think of my own beautiful boy who at near age 19, has a hard time remembering his own sense of wonder.





And although, my big boy may think he is all grown up, I still remember when his sense of joy and wonder filled his life, because...


He is mine; And I have different eyes That hold his yesterdays In pictures no one else remembers:

Waiting for him to be born, Not knowing who he would be, The moments of his childhood, First steps, first words, Smiles and cries, And all the big thresholds Of his journey since...

He is mine in a way No words could ever tell; And I can see through The stranger he has become And still find the countenance of my son.**

**adapted from John O'Donohue blessings.

photos from Paris. last photo circa 1994--j & me