It was about 4:30 pm yesterday when Coban grabbed both my shoulders and shook me as he gave a little faux scream. We both wondered why it wasn’t already time to either watch TV or go to bed.

He wanted to ride bikes around the neighborhood, but it was cold, and I’d already been on a run. Since I wouldn’t agree to anything else, he caved to my walk-with-camera suggestion.

About a half hour in, he said, Thanks for suggesting this. We’d just been barked at by some scary dogs and chased by some toddlers. We were having fun.

We looked for purple this time, obviously, and found it in so many tiny spring flowers. The irony of living through a very scary time but still being free to walk outside and take in all this fresh beauty.

I’m concerned about what is happening and what’s going to happen, of course. But I’m also really grateful for this unexpected, uninterrupted alone time with my child. And the fact that he may have finally found a way of making art that speaks to him.

Hi-Chew, anyone?