Catching Rainbows

A student came to see me a few weeks ago.

She asked about Jake.

About Hank.

I showed her a video Jake sent me of Hank saying,

“Love you mom”.

My eyes watered just watching.

When it was over, she said,

“Wow. What’s that like?”

I wasn’t sure what to say.

It isn’t something I’ve been able to put into words yet.

But I think it’s like catching rainbows.

Jake still remembers the first time he saw a rainbow.

Just after a storm he saw the bowed colors in the sky and pointed them out to his parents.

“Do you know what’s at the end of those?” they asked.

Jake didn’t know.

“Gold!” they said.

Jake could not understand why they were just sitting at home when there was gold to be found at the end of the rainbow!

So, they hopped in the car, and they drove to find it.

Jake said they searched and searched.

He stretched his seatbelt out as far as he could to look over the middle consul to see out of the windshield.

Jake chose the direction they took.

His dad took every right and left turn Jake indicated with little pointing fingers.

It looked like it was just right there,

but they could never quite reach it.

Eventually the emerging sun burned away the colors, but Jake didn’t mind.

He said they laughed and smiled while they drove, and it was one of his favorite days.

Catching rainbows.

A few nights ago, Hank and I were playing on the living room couch.

The decorative glass in the front door cast tiny rainbows through the living room.

The sun was just in the right place.

I could see one on Hank’s shirt, so I pointed it out to him.

“Rainbow,” he repeated.

The awe in his voice was sweet.

So, we tried to catch some.

We crouched down close to the front door, catching the rainbows left on the walls.

Hank laughed and smiled and showed Jake when he got home.

It was one of my favorite days.

Wow.

What’s that like?

Like catching rainbows.
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And I couldn’t be happier.