March 2026 SOLC–Day 2
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As we left the hospital wing where we’d been visiting my son and daughter-in-law and our new (and first! and adorable!) grandchild, we walked down the long hallway. I watched the people entering the building, knowing how lucky we were to be here for a joyful reason. Most people in hospitals are not. I scanned their faces, their postures. Who were these people here to see? What were their stories?
As we neared the elevators to the parking garage, a very tall man and his much shorter young daughter walked toward us. She was maybe five or six years old, and bounced as she walked, her ruffled skirt bobbing about her thin legs. Although I couldn’t make out her words from a distance, I could see that she was talking non-stop. I glanced at her father, trying to read his face. Were they here to visit a new baby, like we were, or was their purpose more worrisome? Although his head was inclined slightly toward her, an ear out to catch her stream of talk, he seemed quiet, maybe even sober. Or maybe it was just the contrast with the animated child at his side?
We passed the two of them, and not long afterward, the little girl’s high voice drifted back to us. “Daddy, do you want to skip with me?”
What would he say? I wondered. Would he do it?
I paused for a moment, but then couldn’t resist turning around to look.
Much to my delight, there they were, still in sight, at the far end of the hallway. The man had leaned way over to hold the child’s hand. The two of them were moving together in a hopping-bobbing-up-and-down approximation of skipping. People stopped to glance and smile as they passed, but the two of them focused on each other. And on their skipping. His long gangly legs angled out from side to side, jerky and awkward. She moved with the fluidity of youth. His movements were somewhat taut, and slightly ridiculous looking. Hers were graceful and free-spirited.
Together, they skipped down the hallway toward whatever awaited them.
And together they were absolutely beautiful.
Nix the comfort zone 
You painted such a beautiful picture of this moment. I could picture the whole thing and it left me smiling and hoping they were skipping toward something joyful. I wish you could share this with them- a snapshot in time. A gift.
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I also hope they were skipping toward something joyful. I guess I’ll never know, but I’ll have a joyful image to revisit.
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Also…congratulations on the baby!!! ❤️❤️❤️
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Thanks! We’re delighted and eager to spend as much time with him as we can!
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I was so relieved that you looked back! You describe the contrast between the two so well, it’s like I had to stop and watch them pass by too!
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Thanks, Cindy! There was no way I could resist looking back!
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generating stories and pretend lives while I people watch is one of my favorite vacation activities at coffee shops and bookstores. I love how you slow down to look at faces and moods here. Thanks for sharing
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Thankfully, I’m not often in a hospital, but it did occur to me how much emotion is present in that building. And also how some people are just there going about their daily work. Such an interesting juxtaposition!
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What a sweet slice to capture. That’s just pure life happening right there in the hallways of a hospital. I wish that more people had the awareness to look around and wonder about the stories and the hurts and joys. Hospitals hold such wide ranges of emotions and conditions. I’m glad you were there for happy ones. Congratulations on your new grand baby. It’s a whole new realm of joy.
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Thanks, Kim! I’m also very thankful we were in the hospital for joyful reasons 🙂
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What a beautiful image! I love how your people watching curiosity led you to notice this special moment between father and daughter.
And congratulations to you, new grandma!!! How exciting!
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Thanks! We’re so thankful they only live an hour away!
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Taking the time to observe small moments–it’s such a joyous part of life. From your description, it sounds like no matter the reason they were there, they will bring someone happiness through their visit. Congratulations on the new member of your family!
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“no matter the reason they were there, they will bring someone happiness through their visit”–Yes! That’s the perfect take-away. Thanks!
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O precious Molly! On a morning I need it your compassion & curiousity in observation, your creativity in storytelling, have all brought me wet eyes that are happy. They would skip, could they only… brava, wonderful One!
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Here’s to happy wet eyes! I hope the coming mornings are brighter for you!
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“Together they were absolutely beautiful.” Isn’t this what the SOLC is all about, capturing precious moments? I want to send prayers to this father and daughter. Hopefully her joy healed whatever they were facing.
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I’m going to go with the idea that they were welcoming a new sibling…it may not be true. But, also, it may be!
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Congratulations on becoming a grandparent; it’s the best! Thank you for a slice that brought me joy and hope. I could clearly picture the dad and daughter. I hope they were there for a happy reason.
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Thanks! I’m looking forward to adding some skipping to my days–though I guess I’ll have to wait a little bit! lol
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Love the tandem skipping you described. I think I would be one to skip given such an invitation. How can you resist an exuberant six-year-old! Short answer – you can’t! Congrats on Sully! What a great nickname! Have I jumped to that conclusion prematurely?
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I’m 100% certain you’d be skipping along! (Also, you’re correct. His nickname is Sully 🙂 )
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Molly, what a sweet slice! You had me with you every moment. I liked your questions and how you turned back to see if the dad would skip. I would have turned back to see if he skipped, also. That must have made you smile. It made me smile. Thank you for sharing.
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My husband and I both noticed the moment and have referred to it several times since then. Ripples of joy spreading…
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Molly, this is a joy to read. The skipping, the reflection on the reasons different people find themselves at the hospital, the difference in animation between the daughter and her lanky father—these and so many other craft moves celebrate what a slice can be!
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Thanks, Trish! It was such a lovely small moment and perfect to lean into for a slice!
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Tremendous. I love the contrasts of gangly, slightly awkward adult and the fluid movements of youth and the way you connect them and see the beauty. The focus on each other, the lack of inhibition (or suppression of inhibition). Hospitals truly are places of that “terrible beauty.” The whole range of human existence is happening in that one spot.
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“Hospitals truly are places of that ‘terrible beauty.'” YES! That idea (though not conceived of as poetically) has struck me again and again since our time there. Every time I walked in, I was so grateful to be there for a joyful reason.
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Ah grandbabies! Congrats on your new and extra cute grandson. People watching, especially in the hospital, feels rich. I love that you turned back to look…and that he was skipping! You have such a way of bringing your observations of people to life! (Enjoy that grandbaby–they grow up too fast! Mine just turned 10–a decade!)
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Thanks, Kim! I tend to nature watch more than people watch. This morning I was remembering prior photo challenges (a color, etc.) and how having a particular lens invigorates and inspires. I thought that I should get myself out and among people more often (outside of school) during this challenge and see what I see. We’ll see…
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This is so, so sweet! Funny thing is, I had just read your Day 3 Slice and saw a comment from Jessica in my slice that mentions your Day 2 slice, and a cute connection between our moments. This made me smile so, so big!
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