Photographers seem to have a knack for capturing some of life’s great moments in numerous situations. Occasionally, driving
around, I’ve found scenes which, if captured by camera, could prompt he telling of their own stories with captions.

Two such “road scenes” caught my eye and attention. Although in different neighborhood locations, each raised my curiosity.
In the first, when waiting at a traffic signal, I looked across the street. There by the bus stop stood a young father with his toddler age child in his arms. As the bus drew closer, the father began talking with his little boy, pointing out its arrival.

Soon a young woman got off the bus, hugged the man and embraced the child. The father took her bag, moving it to his should, then put the child with its outstretched arms into her embrace. With the child safely held by his mother, the
parents headed home arms around each other.

What a lovely scene, I thought, watching them walk away from the bus stop down a narrow patch of grass to the street below. I wondered if she rode the bus daily. What was her destination? Did she have a job elsewhere? Did the father care for their child or, perhaps, that day had picked him up from day care?

Regardless the answers, I turned into the intersection smiling thinking of their happy reunion. To my view, that “road scene” captured tenderness, expectation and a joyful, safe homecoming.

Another “road scene” caught my eye when driving down our street. This time, a teenage boy was walking along carrying a cellophane wrapped floral bouquet. Although my glance was quick, it too caught my interest.

These flowers were the only items he carried. He seemed rather focused on his destination, one known to him alone. Who would receive these flowers – a girlfriend, parent, grandparent or possibly, an ill friend?

Again, regardless the intended person, this floral gift elicited my, “Oh, how nice” comment. Neither scene occurred in February, a month often associated with flowers and displays of affection.

Whether captured on camera, our mind’s eye, or memory, such gifts of love exist around us all the time. We just have to be open to see them and await our own smile.