17 July 2026 – Small, thoughtful child levels her eyes at me.

“I like your hat.”

“Thank you!”

“I like the bird.”

“Me too! He’s a chickadee.”

“And I like the smiley face.”

“What smiley face?”

She sighs, presented with yet another example of the inability of adults to see what is right in front of their eyes.

I suddenly feel like St-Exupéry’s aviator, being schooled once again by the Little Prince.

“Take off your hat.” (I obey.) “Look.” (I look.)

Still at one with the St-Ex aviator, I implore you: go look at your hat.

You may not have a chickadee. But you just might have a smiley face.