I Wish I'd Brought a Camera

{this moment} - A Friday ritual.  Photo capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Usually, Friday is for {this moment}. This Friday, though, the moment is in my memory and my words will have to capture the image.

Mary Beth and I made a considered decision not to bring the camera on our first day at Disney. We both wanted to live in the moment and not to look at the day through the lens. I'm mostly glad we decided to do it that way--we were giving all our managements systems their first tests and the camera was one fewer thing to consider. There is one moment though that is an image I do want to keep forever.

All day, Patrick was making me (and everyone else) a little nuts. Every kid has his or her own way of absorbing the sensory stimulation of Disney. Even though it's all good, it's still stressful. Patrick processes through his feet. It's the weirdest thing. A little bit of elbow action, but mostly feet--kicking things, jostling, navigating  through space as if he were on a soccer field. For the most part, it was Nicky who paid the price. Every time, I turned around, Paddy was tripping, bumping, or otherwise jostling Nicky. I tend to be overprotective of Nicky--he's in a tough spot because he's the youngest of five super-competitive boys. And I  try mostly unsuccessfully to mitigate the big brother teasing. Frankly, I was really ready to wring Patrick's neck.

At the end of the day, all the kids were gathered at a railing overlooking the lake watching the light show at Epcot. I walked up between Patrick and Mary Beth and told Patrick  that at the end of the show I wanted him to take Karoline firmly by the hand. Mary Beth was assigned Katie. Mike would carry Sarah. It was really dark and I wanted to impress upon Paddy the seriousness of his assignment. I told him that more children are lost in the dark after the Epcot light show that anywhere else at any other time. His ears perked up. "Where'd you hear that?" he asked

"I read it in the guide book." Instant credibility.

When the show ended, the plan abruptly changed. Christian scooped Sarah up onto his shoulders. Mary Beth plopped Karoline in the stroller and buckled her in. And Patrick knocked up against Nicholas and locked his arms firmly around his shoulders. Then, he gathered Stephen into himself with his other arm. He held them tightly against his body the whole long walk to the parking tram. There is no doubt that under the guise of a headlock, he was all big brother. I walked behind them all the way and soaked up the sight of his strong, protective arms, wishing I could capture the image. 

No one got lost.