at the people I was passing by. It's because of this that I was caught even more off guard by one particular man I passed.As I pushed forward with my bag slung across my chest and bouncing on my hip, a familiar aroma found its was to my nose and I lost my place in time and space. I recognized it as you would know the voice of an old friend you haven't seen for many years. Something in your body recognizes and responds to it before your brain has a chance to place it. It was the smell of good tobacco - in this case if was from a cigar but it's not very unlike the smell that comes from a pipe. Instantly I was 3 year old and joyfully perched on my grandfather's lap. I suddenly felt a great warmth wash across me and couldn't help smiling. Just then, the man with the cigar suddenly turned, as if he had forgotten something that was now behind him. I was only a few feet away - my face covered with a ridiculous grin. He seemed to think it odd I was both smiling and staring at him and, although I felt compelled to, I did not throw my arm around his neck and hug him.
Three hours later I popped out of work for a minute and happened upon my friend Corey and her 4 1/2 month
old son. She is one of the warmest and most sincere people I have ever known and the baby is one of the most amiable I've ever been around. They has just come from the farmer's market and I waled the 2 blocks to their building with them. We talked of the random things we had each bee doing since we last saw one another but all I could think of was how much I want to have a family of my one someday and walk with my babies to gather vegetables. These daydreams have become more and more bitter sweet for me every year as I get older but no closer to beginning a family. I left them at the front of their building and could think of nothing but babies for the entire return walk. After several minutes my laments tucked themselves away to wait for an unexpected quiet moment when their will unfold and exposes themselves yet again.After work I left for home at a much more leisurely pace than the morning. There is a beautiful church on the corner of 16th and Park that I like to walk past. It serves as a sort 
of community center so there are usually lots of people gathered around and it's a generally joyous atmosphere. Today was rather quiet in comparison. I noticed as I got closer that there was a long black limo out front, then I noticed a 2nd. At this point it could be either a wedding or a Quinceañera. It's a 50/50 chance of either, but today I saw a seriously old school (I'm talking 1930's) Rolls Royce Phantom sitting in front of the church, a driver reading a book while he waited. There is no way a 15 year old girl has asked for a classic Phantom to ride off in. So, it's a wedding then. I realize it at the very instant my heart leaps into my throat and my eyes close hard, just in case some tears might well. This is another thought that is better sweet for me as the years pass and my prospects continue to decline.
of community center so there are usually lots of people gathered around and it's a generally joyous atmosphere. Today was rather quiet in comparison. I noticed as I got closer that there was a long black limo out front, then I noticed a 2nd. At this point it could be either a wedding or a Quinceañera. It's a 50/50 chance of either, but today I saw a seriously old school (I'm talking 1930's) Rolls Royce Phantom sitting in front of the church, a driver reading a book while he waited. There is no way a 15 year old girl has asked for a classic Phantom to ride off in. So, it's a wedding then. I realize it at the very instant my heart leaps into my throat and my eyes close hard, just in case some tears might well. This is another thought that is better sweet for me as the years pass and my prospects continue to decline.Today I was reminded of all the things I wish for my life but have yet to attain. A home and a family to share many happy days that come from the sheer consistency of being filled with simple joys. This is what my dreams are made of.
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