I was at the market at 5 p.m. to pick up a few essentials: Cream for coffee, eggs for breakfast and Advil for my1. After rushing all day doing jobs, I did not want to be2, to say the least. But I told myself it was my3stop before going home to put my feet up.
So I4a parking place, grabbed a bag from the trunk and found a shopping cart. That's when I saw her. She was5in a shopping cart. She looked to be maybe 9-months old, short blond curls, blue eyes. I couldn't take my6off her. Then I did what I always do with7: I gave her my best smile. It may have looked a bit mad,8 it comes from my heart.
That's a(an)9 I formed long ago when I became a mother. It started with my child, in that10, life-changing moment of her birth.
At times, my smile would fade to a look of11or worry, but it never left my face for long. I've learned that everyone needs a 12sometimes, young and old, friends and13, even those at the market in a rush to get home.
She took her14deciding just what to make of my smile. But finally, she15. I wish you could have seen her. I laughed and waved goodbye. And she16me a kiss. That put a smile on my face that got a smile17from every shopper I passed. I was18smiling when I got home and realized I'd forgotten to get Advil.19, I didn't need it. My headache was gone.
Somehow, in that simple 20of smiles, this weary old world becomes a better place. If you're lucky, maybe they'll even blow you a kiss and make your headache go away.
