Pokemon Satori

Walking from
the car to the
Marine Science Center,
with the
grandsons,
eight and five.

Who have insisted
they must be
allowed to bring
Psyduck and Scorbunny,
their Pokemon
comfort creatures,
which they
clutch
with determined
ferocity.

I concede,
not wishing
to have my
grandparenting
license
revoked.
But
knowing
full well

I will soon be
the designated
carrier,
as the boys
scamper
in a dozen
directions
to view the
octopus and
other denizens of
briny tanks and
tidepools.

I lose sight
of them and
hope
grandma is on
tracking duty.

Now there are
looks askance
and
side-eyed
glances

at the old dude
who apparently
carries
stuffed animals
for security
purposes.

My heart throbs
with joy
as I realize
that being seen
as a man
who would
saunter about
brazenly hugging
toy creatures,
for mysterious
reasons,
and wallowing
in delight
about the
furtive attention,
probably means
I have attained

Pokemon Satori.

(Photo by Sue Gillard)