Long Walks On Leafy Streets

10/02/2015 Beach Drive, Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC
I have to admit, sometimes the most beautiful moment is when Prashant closes his eyes and goes to sleep. He just went to sleep after being awake for about an hour, from 12.30 am until 1.30 am. I had a bit of sleep before that, so I was able to stay awake with him. He likes being walked around, looking at everything. I also sang to him, probably some of the same songs my mother sang to me when I was a little bundle of restless energy like him. He smiled at me radiantly and that made me very happy. I think my mother singing to me and caring for me was what gave me strength and character, just like it is probably for every other person. I hope Prashant also gains some comfort and strength from our caring for him.

He has been a little stressed out in the past couple of weeks during which he has started going to daycare. Since Nicole started going to work we have a very tightly choreographed routine in the morning of getting ready for work and getting him ready for daycare.
After much agonizing we decided on a place near my work. It is in a very nice location and one highlight of my day is the walk to campus and back along the Macmillan reservoir. I can see some geese and gulls there already having arrived as part of the fall migration.

On Wednesday of this week they called us to say he had a fever. So we needed to take him home right away. I cancelled a seminar I was about to give and Nicole also left an important conference she was attending to go to the daycare. He seemed okay, though. We couldn’t find any high temperature after getting him home. He might be just having a rough time adjusting to the new life. But he did need some extra comforting. Yesterday he slept very well but perhaps because of that tonight he seems to have a bit too much energy.

As I have written before, Prashant has also brought a tremendous amount of energy and excitement to our lives. I feel like life has begun anew. On Thursday of the previous week (the 24th) I went running in the evening at the Coolidge high school track. It was almost dark when I started. There was football practice going on. A bunch of school girls were sitting by the field, watching the practice and chatting among themselves. The floodlights came on as I started running. I was able to run 4 miles in 32 minutes, something I had been trying to do for a while. I ran 3 miles in 24 minutes at the same place some time ago. As I get older and lose more weight I am able to run faster than before. Running keeps me fresh and energized, even on days when I am feeling very tired and weak. It is one of the greatest pleasures of life, one that I hope to pass on to Prashant.

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