Beautiful family in Central Park

This group was playing in Central Park today...sounded beautiful. Even more beautiful was the little family watching on the curb. Several other people couldn't take their eyes off the family either. It was as if we were seeing the Niagara Falls for the first time. As if they took their place on stage and every member of that family was there to show us all how it's done. Their comfort level was as if they were on some secluded retreat, yet we were in the heart of NYC. They are a Rembrandt of a family and I scanned the crowd to see who all was seeing what I saw. I was caught off guard by the tear on my cheek that rolled under my sunglasses. The mother breast fed the youngest, with no social concern. At one point the middle girl stopped playing and leaned in to hug the baby and her mother. When they got ready to leave, the dad strapped the baby in the double stroller first, gently overcoming the squirming resistance. The little girl knew it was her turn, so she took off running but within a 15 ft. circle of the dad, who just stood there and let her get it out of her system. He had complete trust in the crowd she was running through (maybe his 20" arms had something to do with that). He took the two youngest toward the car and the mother stayed behind for a couple more minutes with the oldest boy who wanted to strum his toy guitar with the band a couple more minutes. When the mom and the boy headed out, I walked beside her as they crossed the street, like a 'stand in' protector since the dad was out of sight. I asked where she was from. She said with a smile, "Pennsylvania, why do you ask?" I told her she seemed like she lived in Marin county CA and she said "thank you," recognizing the compliment. I told her she had such a beautiful family that it made me cry. Without hesitation she lunged into a full body hug with me and wouldn't let go. At this point I couldn't speak anymore. She then stared at me as tears filled her eyes and she told me that I was so beautiful too and she could see my heart as she put her hand on my chest. All I could do was point back at her. As we both noticed the little boy getting a little far down the sidewalk ahead of her, all I could say was "go." This happened in New York City on a Sunday afternoon in late May, 2011.

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