the little child running around, playing in the sand. the little child sitting squalling, being buried in a bit of sand. the little kid grinning for the camera, sitting on the horse on the merry-go-round.

looking at the old pictures, i cannot let go. i try to replicate.

but the child is all grown up, and struggling to replicate. the child grins madly, now grown up, with a mind of her own. doing as she pleases. staring strangers in the eye. trying to capture their moments, because they didn't. grinning at thanks offered casually by parents of other strangers, sitting on mini ferris wheels, half scared, half overjoyed.

the grown up child wonders if she wouldn't mind a ferris-wheel ride.