Their prints stretch out in front of me. The trees bend in the wind and their groans float down to the road.
My mother and our nearly 7-year-old family dog, Quincy, chart a course in front of me. Her footprints fall in line with his paws. I stop to sneak a photo, breaking the flow of conversation my mother and I were having.
We’re all getting older. My mom and Quincy don’t make it out as much. Her feet and Quincy’s legs both ache. I feel as though a chapter in my life is closing and a new one is beginning. A chapter without countless breaks to spend days relaxing in my childhood home. Instead my days will be spent at work. Oftentimes, away from home and away from my family. Today is one of the few days I still get to venture out with my mom and dog.
I smile. Crouching down, I unglove my hand and snap photos from my phone. My heart warms my body despite the freezing temperatures. I soak in the moment before being interrupted.
“What are you doing?” my mom shouts back down the road.
“Nothing. I’m coming,” I said, shoving my phone back in my pocket as I jog to catch up. I smile as I slow down to keep pace. I pat my mom on the back and our chat continues. We laugh and continue to march our way down the snow covered road.
Have a Bright Spot to share? Send it to Managing Editor Julia Lerner (lernerj@denison.edu). Tell us about the moment that made you smile in under 200 words, and try to include a photograph. We’ll add it to our growing list of Bright Spots on TheReportingProject.org!