Backpack to Buggy

I wanted to post a special message to you for you birthday Boo, but everything I wanted to say was really about me.  A friend once observed that having children was the greatest expression of ego.  Now I understand what that means.

You have been your own unique, confident, and tenacious individual from an early age (before birth as far as I am concerned).  As I watched you at your birthday party, I saw how you changed my view of the world during your second year.

You have become wonderful friends with our next-door neighbor who is four years older.  Despite the age difference and the language barrier (not a lot of people speak early toddler), you create games to play together and are excited to share things you enjoy.  She is a wonderful friend, carrying you out of trouble and helping you change in and out of all of your shoes.  You both make each other excited to share.

Holding hands with friend from Java.

I watched you become fast friends with children around the world and our neighborhood despite age, language and physical differences.  In Bali, you spent 3 hours running around with a 5 year old boy from Java.  He taught you to play tag and jump down steps without a single word of English.

Sharing pictures with friend from Java.

You shared a mysterious Balinese treat with the sons and mother of the great wayan puppeteer and puppet maker, I Ketut Sudinana.

Snacking with the family of puppeteer.

You showed a baby from Japan how to eat satay.

Pointing Japanese friend to the satay.

You helped cheer up a Hong Kong boy who was having a bad morning (terrible two fit).

Cheering up a HK boy at Kowloon Park.

I thought you were shy and clingy but I now see that you can create personal relationships across many barriers with little effort.  This is something travelers continuously seek, including me.  Will you teach me what you know?

PS – I’ll try and take you on some good trips this year so we can practice.  Egypt maybe?