Young Husband

He sauntered to the public faucet with a playful smile. Many eyes were on him, mostly teasing.

He then took a confident squat and examined the task in front him as if confronting a school science project. True, it was quite a challenge - cleaning his firstborn's soiled diapers.

But not like any "fear factor" episode, he proceeded like a natural . He brushed off the remnants of the baby explosions and washed the linens amidst the friendly neighborhood heckling.

In no time, the mission was accomplished.

Just another day of fatherhood....

Meantime, one of those in the sidelines captured the scene as a human interest photo. Initially.

But later, as he looked at himself, it became a poignant reminder of the few things he failed to experience as of yet and would now love trading anything for. Strangely, he wishes to be on the very spot where the young man was and be just as proud of his communion with the world's future generation.

For days hence, the scene flashed incessantly in the photographer's mind and brought him to asking - did he pursue the wrong priorities early in life?

Until today, the wondering continues ... and hopefully, it will end as Valentine's Day passes.

(The pic is of Andrew, a neighbor, taken during my "istambay" moments in our town last December).