Swimming With V

Sometimes life takes funny turns. Not "ha, ha" funny, but "unexpected" funny. I guess that's what makes life the wild ride that it is...you really never know what's coming around the corner. Sometimes someone you hardly know impacts you, and helps to direct your life in ways you would never have anticipated.
Today I had a play date with my new friend, "V". V is a 6 year old boy with Autism...he is actually my friend's son...but from the moment we laid eyes on each other today, V and I became fast friends. He seemed instantly enamored with my gorgeousness, and I with his adorable sweetness.
I am now into the sixth week of my self imposed sabattical. While I'm enjoying my time off...in the ways that I, of course, would...sleeping late, staying up late, laying at the pool, thinking about going to the beach, searching for new boyfriends, attempting to (and occassionally succeeding at) working out and, of course, sleeping late...I am also thinking about what's next....what is my game plan? ...since, of course, I am aware that my much needed and well deserved sabattical can not, in fact, last forever. I have to outline the next chapter. However, as is often the case in life, it seems the next chapter has already been laid out before me.
I haven't seen V since he was probably a year old. It's been quite a while. I see his mother pretty frequently, however, and I always ask about V and how he's doing. His mother happens to be one of the best women I know...she's strong and steady and good and kind. She has very excitedly been telling me about a new school that is being built for these special children, and invited me to take a tour of V's present school, which I eagerly did a few weeks ago. It left an impression on me. I wanted to work there. With the kids. To help them achieve their daily smiles. And so the wheels were set in motion.
As I've continued to sleep late, stay up late, lay by the pool and attempt to exercise over the last few weeks, my next chapter has been ruminating in the back of my mind. Today sealed the deal.
He's blonde and sweet and smart, and he wanted to go swimming. So, after we had lunch and chocolate chip cookies we headed over to the pool. Who says you have to wait 30 minutes after eating to get into the pool?! Not us! He was eager and excited to get into the water. And, as he was showing me his swimming skills, which seemed to wholly consist of him putting his face underwater, he clung to me like a jellyfish. We "swam" and played and smiled and had fun, although he couldn't seem to get his mind off of his persistent cravings for cheez-itz and green apple lollipops. After tiring ourselves out (or, perhaps more accurately, after he tired me out), we dried off and headed home, as V happily recounted the memory of him and I in the pool. And for that short time, for me, it was all about him...his day...how he was doing....his happiness...and helping him to achieve his smile. It was one of the best times I've had in a really long time. It was special. It was meaningful. It was important. Hopefully, as much for V as for me. And so, this little blonde angel boy illuminated for me what has been ruminating in the back of my mind, and has brought to the forefront the details of my next chapter.