Max Ride

I was riding the max the other day listening to some relaxing music, when a stoutly older gentleman sat right down next to me. Entranced in my music, He interrupted me and my dreamlike state by saying, "Do you mid if I sit here?". The way he said it was in a proper like manner drenched with the stain of a southern draw I couldn't ignore it. Normally I would of immediately dismissed his reply by saying a simple "ya", but his accent struck me. I looked up at him, and said an inescapable "Sure" with a smile. The seating arrangement on the max forced us to sit right next to each other in a tight configuration of three. I tired to relax in this tight spot, when his voice interrupted me again. "Well, Hello!" He said, not to me, but to a little adorable four year old with rosy coloured cheeks. "You can sit here." He suggested to her. When she consented, he began to ask her questions that only a four year old would give interesting answers to. How old are you? Where's your mommy? Do you like the max? "Do you know how pretty you are?" Normally I would react to this in a curious way, just to be sure that he wasn't a dangerous stranger to her, but the way he said it was almost reassuring. "Yes!" She said, in an innocent as a matter a fact sort of a way. "Really?", he said. "You should tell my mom that!" She shouted out in sporadic spurts, looking for her on looking mom only a few steps away.
They continued to have a conversation of sorts with each other until the man started to cry. "You have just done something very important for me..." He said looking at her lovingly. "You have helped me let go."
The four year old didn't understand, but she didn't need to. The man got off right after that, continuing to tell her his thanks and goodbyes. I wonder what it was this man was released from, by a simple joy and youthfulness of a four year old. Did he have a son that died? A daughter? Or something else? Whatever it was, the presence of peace the man had felt left a nice aroma when he walked off the max.
Nathan Vredervelt passed away yesterday. Makes me think about things. About life, and death. I keep on hearing Ray LaMontagne's Be here now in my head.

Don't let your mind get weary and confused
Your will be still, don't try
Don't let your heart get heavy child
Inside you there's a strength that lies

Don't let your soul get lonely child
It's only time, it will go by
Don't look for love in faces, places
It's in you, that's where you'll find kindness

When I listen to it, I feel like someone comforting is whispering into my ear while I'm in a sea of people. Everything around me is foggy, floating.
The chord progression is always leading to something, like it is only the beginning to a journey. Which is what life is.