Something Learned, Something to Share

Last Saturday I went with my cousin to Charlie St. Cloud!  It was the BEST movie ever!!!  And I'm proud to claim that I did not, I repeat, did NOT cry!  But there was something in that movie that hit me hard.  And the odd thing is, it didn't hit me until today...
Sunday Dinner.  Every Sunday. Happens whether you want it to or not. 
And see, I'm 19.  I'm not a kid anymore.  I want  to talk to the 'Adults'.  I want to hold my drink after dinner in the 'Circle' and discuss what's going on in the world and our lives.  I've wanted this for as long as I remember.  And just when it seems like I've been somewhat Allowed and welcomed my little 9 year old cousin, Izzy, comes bouncing up to me, pulling my legs, my arms, anything that she can move.  Pulling out the puppy dog eyes and begging me to take her to the park.  (There's a park 1/4 of a mile from my Grandma's house and 2 parks about a mile down the road.)  Sometimes I do take her but most of the time I roll my eyes and try to think of a reason not to take her.  There are dinners that I would do just about anything then to take her to the park. 
I'm an adult.  And adults don't play at the park.
I push her off, give her something else to do and join back into the "Circle'.
But today when those brown puppy dog eyes were bouncing in front of my face a scene from Charlie St. Cloud popped in my head.  (SPOILER ALERT)  I could see Sammy's face with the tears streaming down in quiet little rivers and Charlie (Zac Efron) looking at him, looking at his little brother that is dead because Charlie didn't want to spend the evening with him, that he would much rather go to a party with his friends.  All Sammy wanted was a little time every day to be with Charlie.  To learn to play baseball and just maybe bond with his cool big bro.  It was such a small stupid thing to Charlie but it meant the world to Sammy. 
It would mean to world to Izzy. 
We never know how much time we have here on this Earth.  Never know when something could change everything we know.  So I took her to the park.  She wanted to play "Boss Tag''.  And to be honest I didn't.  But as we were walking and she was talking a hundred miles a minute I couldn't help but smile.  Maybe I was missing out with the 'Adults' but I would be missing out on a lot more with these special moments with Izzy if I stayed behind. 
We ended up playing for a good hour, maybe two.  I really don't know.  What I do know is that we did have a good time!  We had fun and I learned a lot just talking to her.  As we were walking back she was holding my hand and asked if we could do this every Sunday.  Just me and her.  No adults. No siblings. No kids.  I couldn't help but to say yes.  I love that little girl.  Even if she does drive me crazy.
Even if when I turn my back for ten minutes for a drink of water she and Mari get sap stuck in their hair and we spend the rest of the evening getting it out...