12-15-2020 A Sunny and Cold Wednesday,
The weather report forecasted that tonight’s snow will be one foot deep.
In the evening, after thinking about how I could not go out tomorrow, I started searching through my memory of traveling for entertainment.
I recalled some simple and joyful moments I had never experienced and which I would like to experience in the future, such as when I saw a family of four’s happy time at Walden Pond, I wanted to enjoy that type of private game too. Another simple and joyful moment was at a museum in London in 2014, where I happened to hear a grandfather and granddaughter’s funny and silly conversation. Their conversation taught me that one of the purposes of taking children to the museum is to let children be curious and naive (BTW, I just saw a friend who is around my age sharing the handicrafts she made for her granddaughter).
In an afternoon in July 2014, I visited the very quiet National Portrait Gallery in London and carefully observed the portraits upstairs and downstairs.
In an exhibit hall with many portraits of people with long hair, I happened to bump into a grandfather and a 3 or 4 year old little girl. There were only three of us in the very quiet exhibit hall, and so I could hear their funny conversation without missing a word.
“Grandpa, look, the person’s hair is so long!” the little girl said, surprised.
I thought the grandfather would explain that long hair are wigs, wearing wigs was the culture at that time… However, I heard the old man agree instread: “He really has long hair!”
“This person’s hair is too long too!”
“This person’s hair is too long too!”
The little girl repeatedly voiced her surprise, and I lost interest in her talking, but the old man was still very engaged and agreed with the little girl: “You are right, it is too long!”
Little girl then suddenly raised her voice said: “Grandpa, I think they all need a hair cut!”
The old man said: “Good idea, they all need a hair cut!”
After that they left the hall happily.
I really liked the wise and funny old man. I wish that one day, I can be like the grandfather taking grandchildren to museums, devoting time to grandchildren.
2014, The hall where I met the grandfather and granddaughter.
