2009-06-25 - 9:39 a.m.

....the beginning of my morning commute..

Every morning, K, Susi and I leave the house - K carrying Susi, me carrying two coffee mugs and a baby cup for Susi. Susi doesn't really DRINK from the baby cup. She just likes to CARRY it.

We walk to the coffee shop where K stands in line for two coffees - a double latte for him and a very dry decaf cappuccino for me. I sit with Susi while she (a) drops toys on the floor (b) comments on the spinning ceiling fan, or (c) flirts shamelessly with anyone who will look her way.

We leave the coffee shop and critique the quality of our respective drinks. Perfect. Too hot. Too much milk. etc.

We engage in serious topics of conversation: bookstores, radio news, economic issues, climate change, movies, real estate, travel, the preponderance of anti-destination league members on the drive, the lady with the beautiful red hair and the three kids who always looks tired. Susi points at trucks and buses.

We reach the store outside the skytrain stop. It used to be a booster juice store, so it has a big pink strawberry painted on the glass door. Susi loves the big pink strawberry. She points and says something that must be about the strawberry. We point and say "Erdbeere!" (strawberry). I kiss her on the forehead. She starts waving at me and says "Dah-do!" K and I kiss and say goodbye.

As I walk down the glass tunnel to the platform, I peak over the tracks to the bridge and watch K and Susi walk back home up the Drive. I smile and pull out my book for the ride to work.