I took loads of photos today, but really feel like telling a story with a shot from last week instead. I still have to sort and edit today's shots besides and sometimes that takes me awhile. Plus I like to keep it mixed up in my album...yesterday was a snowy shot...and today I took more. Snow, snow and snow. Time for a sweet candid instead:).
Last week, as we stood by the shoreline and the kids played in the white sand and water on Clearwater Beach, we noticed a man and his adorable daughter near us. He started taking photos of his little girl and after a bit Michael walked over and offered to take shots of the two of them together with the man's camera. The guy agreed and then returned the favor and took shots of our family on the beach.
Turns out they were visiting from Seoul, Korea and were touring the US for 3 weeks. His name was Jason, but I didn't catch the little girl's name. After exchanging photos, the man disappeared, but the little girl kept playing in the sand right next to us. Every once in awhile I peeked over and noticed her eyes looking sad and watery. Where could her daddy be?!
We were soon ready to go, but I was not about to leave this little girl on her own on the beach. My heart stopped when she got up and approached the water. Can she swim? Yikes, where IS that man?
After awhile and at least a couple of scared or about to cry faces, the little girl, got up and started trudging toward the bustling boardwalk. By this time, it was really getting to be dusk and was getting dark. I wondered what I should do. She was maybe 5 at most and seemed to be all alone on a busy beach. Did she know where to go? Worriedly, like an overprotective mama, I followed behind her searching ahead for her dad. Finally, not seeing him, I called to her.
"Sweety, do you want to come and sit with us and wait for your daddy? Maybe he went to the bathroom or something and will be right back. You can sit with us there." I pointed toward my family and hoped that I didn't seem like a kidnapping creep.
Then I saw her daddy approaching. "Oh there is your daddy." I said excitedly. When he came over, I explained to him that I had been worried about her and didn't want her to get lost. He had been sitting on the boardwalk maybe 100 yards away from her or so watching and thanked me for my concern. Sheesh, so glad we found him. I guess that they do things differently in different places, or that parents all have their own methods and levels of comfort with their kids on their own, but man, was that worrisome.
And if I ever get bit by the baby bug again, I want to adopt an Asian baby. They are so preciously adorable to me. This girl was so stinkin' cute and here was one that melted my heart in Central Park last summer:
http://365project.org/amandal/365-year-2/2013-06-27
Thank you so much for your comments and faves that put my Snowburst shot from yesterday on the PP. You all are so good to me.
@calm How sweet of you to say that, Cathy. I think that many mama's feel the same.
@stimuloog Thanks, Marloes!!
Thanks so much for your lovely comments, my friends. Glad to hear that many of us would do the same thing and watch over the little sweetie. Hope that she made it back home safe and sound after her trip.