Isaiah.

Two doors down from me lives the sweetest, cutest four year old boy.  Angelic, adorable, dimple-cheeked Isaiah is a smile factory.  Since we have only just managed to close the door on this past winter, I haven't seen much of Isaiah lately.  New Englad neighbors only really see each another between April and September.  Although I don't see him often, I've never seen Isaiah in meltdown mode or heard him whine.  I can't even really recall ever seeing him cry.  Isaiah is a perpetually cheerful, friendly, outgoing little boy, who greets everyone walking by, and lights up the neighborhood.  Once, he saw my garbage bag tear as I carried it to the bin, and without waiting for my reaction or any request for help, he bolted over and started collecting the trash from my driveway.  Did I mention that he is four? 

Today, I had one of "those" days at work.  I hit the ground running.  Literally.  Checked email on blackberry before rolling out of bed, and discovered that a few "issues" had brewed  in the four hours during which what seems to be the entire continent of Europe had been up and at it.  I answered emails from bed and the bus stop, participated in a conference call during my commute, and walked into my office to a ringing phone.   The day continued like that, with emails and phone calls pouring in, and nothing receiving my attention for more than a 15 minute stretch.  I'm not sure how many balls I let drop today, because I completely lost track of how many were in the air. 

On my walk home from the bus stop, I was tired, and maybe just a wee bit frazzled.  I'd run a gauntlet, and the bruises were starting to reveal themselves.  Then I encountered Isaiah, sitting on his front steps with his Mom, enjoying the first sunny day in a long while.  Isaiah gave me a huge smile, and a wave, and told me that soon, there would be lots of bees around, because the flowers are growing, and the bees "enjoy the pollen".  We talked springtime, butterflies, bike rides, and fertilizer, and mosquitoes, and bats!  I told Isaiah our loose plan to nail a bat house to the tree in our back yard, somewhere above the treehouse, to give the bats a home, and to help keep the mosquitoes at bay.   

Isaiah is very excited about the bat house, and asked to help put it up.  I promised I wouldn't do it without him.  And, he is excited about an excuse to climb up into our treehouse.  We talked for a bit about how cool and fun the treehouse is.  I told Isaiah that as long as he is with a grown up who is in charge and says it is OK, he can play in our treehouse anytime he'd like.  He doesn't even need to ask us.  Until tonight, I had forgotten just how easy it is to bring overwhelming happiness to a four year old child!  Isaiah is thrilled.  And Rachel, who spends the most time in the treehouse, decided quickly that it is OK for Isaiah to use the treehouse when he wants to.  As she sorted it out in her head, and processed it, we heard her say that if she wants to use it and he is there, they'll just share.  And take turns.  We were so pleased with how quickly she decided she was willing to share this space.  Later, she told me that she would like to do the 29 gifts, too. 

I can't even remember anymore why I felt so stressed when I rolled out of bed this morning.  Anyone else want to come climb a tree?