Making Faces

People take my daughter seriously, and I guess they probably should. She has her serious face, a frown plus a scowl, plus a furrowed brow, and it has intimidated me once or twice. I did eventually work out that looking back at her no less seriously is the way through to her joyous heart, as evidenced by smiles and sweet laughter. And I've encouraged friends and family to do the same -- with the same results. But as for strangers who seem taken aback by her serious visage, and whom I can't all coach, it is up to them to decipher for themselves that she is a person. Young, yes, little, yes, but a person just the same.

When we finished today's choo-choo ride, she gave the experience a spontaneous round of applause, as she did once before. We live on that train.