Innocence

When do we lose our innocence? In this modern age of information overload, what is there left to surprise or amaze us? And why am I asking these questions?

Take an everyday Saturday morning. Walking from my apartment to the local convenience store to suss out whether any of the newspapers are worth buying, or at least, reading. (As it turned out, The Independent had a free Sigur Ros CD so being the music obsessive that I am, that ended up in the basket with the water supply).

Let's not get distracted. Back to the story. I was treading my usual route through the car park of the neighbouring offices and ruminating on those three words I'd said last night. A couple with a young child were a few paces ahead of me and approaching the small fountain that I'd ignored countless times before. Then it happened. The boy excitedly ran towards the fountain and clambered up the steps to the running water. He then turned round towards his parents with a look of wonder and pride to melt a thousand hearts. Forget Iguassu Falls. Discount Victoria Falls. This boy had found his own Niagara in the midst of a city office block and he wanted to show it off to his parents and the world.

Something so simple, so mundane, so oblivious to the adult world was a source of amazement to this child of tender years. In a world where we take every chance to steal innocence and always want more than we are given, this pure act fleetingly brought a wide smile to my face.