Monday, May 2, 2005
Because It's There

Ruby seems to jump over a new developmental hurdle every time I look at her. She used to explore the world by putting everything that she encountered in her mouth. Now, she examines new objects by climbing on them and precariously balancing herself atop their highest precipice until she jiggles and falls. Sometimes this makeshift mountaineering results in giggles. Sometimes it results in a loud thud followed by an uncontrollable wail. I know she really hurt herself when her cry begins with a silent scream that lasts a couple of seconds until she takes a deep breath and lets her formerly trapped voice out of its cage. She can get on the couch by herself now, and we finally taught her how to get down by sitting at its edge and slowly pushing herself to the floor. Unfortunately for my nerves, she achieves this by standing up at the back of the couch and running at a full sprint the two steps to its edge. She then stops on a dime, teetering back and forth ready to face plant onto the hardwood floor, before she sits quietly down and slides off of the couch. Sometimes there's a dad in the way.

She loves the outdoors. If she’s fussy, I just take her into the backyard.

She walks about and points at trees, birds, the dogs, and random phantoms in the sky. She loves to go to the park, especially if there is a swing. She sits in the toddler swing, her legs dangling though the little holes, and smiles coyly at me while I push her. If I only do it for ten or fifteen minutes and then take her out and guide her to the ducks or the slide, she yanks her hand from mine and sprints back to the swing. She looks up at the swing and holds her hands out in the hugging position, asking the swing to pick her up. There is a delicate balance to be maintained however, because if I push her for one minute too long, she starts to look rather green and uncomfortable.

Every once in a while, I take her to my friend’s coffee house by the river. We sit outside and have a cup of coffee, and then we walk by the riverbank. She is fascinated by the sound and sight of moving water. I am too. I am one of Maclean’s minions, and the river is my church. Even before I became a fisherman, my favorite places have to do with the river and the lakes at either end. Today, she poked her head through a window in the concrete bridge over the Truckee, and stared for several minutes without moving or chattering. I hope that we can share many riverside moments over the years to come.

I start a new job tomorrow. I don’t think it’s a great idea to talk about one’s job on a personal site like this, so I won’t go into too many details. Let it suffice to say that so far, everyone I work for seems great, and I’m excited to see what the new place is like. I’m also excited to change things up a little bit; I’m no longer a waiter. I think I’ll enjoy being a bartender! There is a subtle difference between going to someone else’s table to take their order, and having someone come to your bar. Besides, any change will be welcome. Even so, new job stress is a killer. Wish me luck!