Recording Life Moments

We met my parents for brunch on my son's birthday. Cracker Barrel. They know the waitress. We told her he turned five that day.

At some point she asked if he would want ice cream and confirmed his name. Afterward, I returned to chatting without really thinking about what was about to happen. Soon she arrived at our table with at least five, maybe seven other waitresses, and they started singing "Happy birthday" to my boy. His eyes widened as all those ladies sang. When they came to his name, his little hand flew up to his mouth and he gasped. They finished the song and a few people who were watching turned back to their bacon and eggs. My son stared at the waitress choir as they dispersed, his hand finally coming down to the table. He giggled and said, "I didn't know they knew my name!" He took a bite of his ice cream and giggled some more. "I didn't know they could sing!"

Sometimes I wish I could just have a camera running all the time, like life surveillance, to record every precious moment. Instead, I miss a few beautiful images that I wish I could save forever. I guess I just snap a mental picture or run a mental video and hope it sticks forever in my memory. I never want to forget that moment his hand flew up. Or that gasp.