Cal's spell

Cal brings out the best in people. He unlocks love and softens edges. Just hold his gaze and fall into his sea-blue, sea-deep eyes and you are under his spell. It’s remarkable.

When I’m with Cal, strangers talk with me (or to Cal then me asking about him), people smile wide and long, eyes speak joy, and people no longer care about acting strange and looking funny as long as Cal talks to them or responds to their quirkiness with glee and twirling feet (he does this, it’s brilliant).

On Sunday, we visited my dad’s sister, Julie; it was Cal’s first time meeting her. They were intrigued with each other; Cal kept grabbing at her lips and looking at her intently, and smiling too. He ate a banana at Starbucks and actually liked it. We were out all day (a rarity with naps now) and G-gma Joyce kept saying, “He’s such a good boy, isn’t he,” while beaming. During the almost hour car ride home, Calvin took special interest in the water bottle I had, sucking on the lid and shaking the water inside. At one point he hissed in frustration as I took big gulps. I gave him the bottle. He didn’t want it. I poured him some water in the cap and he lapped that up. He knows what he wants. Then he started this roller coaster fit of giggling that lasted a good 20 minutes. He’d giggle with the bottle fully in his mouth, and stop. Then he’d giggle again. Then he squeel. Then giggle. Nana and I were just watching and laughing. My cheeks were sore from it.

Then back to our house for dinner (Shaun had been at work all day) where my dad said what a gift Cal has been to us, to our lives – absolutely. Part of the joy comes from that unlocking of love of everyone around Cal. He lets his emotions flow unabated and authentic, as he hasn’t fashioned a filter, which invites others to let their love flow without restraint too. While we teach him language and our worldly customs, perhaps we can learn his love-without-borders ways.

Maybe we can all take a queue from Cal and permeate joy for joy's sake.

OK, the other part of course is that he’s unbelievably cute, which, yes, goes a long way to crack shells and melt hearts, including, first and foremost, this mom’s.