Train Ride Inspires Playful Conversations by Pat Rumbaugh AS I STOOD on the platform with my daughter Sarah, recently engaged to Zach, I had to pinch myself from the last couple of weeks of exciting news in our family. Our shoulders were touching as we spoke about the wedding planning that began yesterday with visits to a couple of venues and the lovely gowns Sarah tried on as I looked on with enthusiasm as the Mother-of-the-future-bride. Sarah only had a couple of minutes before she and Zach were off to an appointment, so we spent those minutes looking at her glamorous wedding ring with awe.
Both Sarah and I were glowing from ear to ear. Our daughter is getting married to a wonderful guy, Tom and I are gaining a son and Alex is getting a brother. As I waited amongst the other passengers on the platform, a young child approached, walking hand-in-hand between Mother and Grandmother, sporting a fluffy pink bunny hat with floppy ears and attached below her chin. I commented to them that I loved the hat. Mom responded with a thank you. I shared that the little girl looked to be 28 years younger than my daughter who recently got engaged. My spirits were still soaring from my time with Sarah.
26 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SPRING 2019
The girl’s Mother congratulated me and we began to chat. I learned the little girl’s name and shared, “I was a teacher and coach and now I am a play advocate.” I told them about co-founding “Let’s Play America” and thought, because of the girl’s age, they might be interested in hearing about my children’s book “Let’s Play at the Playground.” This book has full-page photos of real children playing with an inspirational sentence associated with each photo. The Grandmother responded, “She loves looking at photographs!” How easy and joyful it is to connect with others about play – those things that fill us with pleasure and satisfaction. www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine