You know how people talk about taking things for granted?

I had a huge epiphany the other evening while taking a walk.

I don't even know what possessed me to do it, but I corralled my youngest son, Drake, and we walked from our home (across from the Board of Education), to the heart of Jamestown.

Of course there was preparation involved.

For some reason, Drake had to have a cap (which he wore backwards), and he had to have gum to chew ("To look cool," he told me.)

My heart melted as he grabbed my hand, our flip flops slapping against the sidewalk.

"There's my school!" Drake said, pointing out Jamestown Elementary. "We live so close that I can walk there, and my sisters can, too."

"That's right," I acknowledged.

Walking, walking.

"There's some flowers, daddy!" he said. "I'm going to pick one for mommy."

And he did.

"There's a cricket, daddy!" Drake said, as it danced in front of us. "Did you know crickets are red?"

No, I didn't know that.

As we topped the hill into town, church steeples were silhouetted in the moonlight.

"You think God's at home, daddy?" my son asked.

"Yeah, probably," I said, "because it's pretty close to bedtime."

"Can we go see Him?" Drake inquired.

"We better let Him rest," I clumsily answered. "He stays pretty busy."

I was pleasantly amazed at how quiet and serene our little town was, and what a blessing it is to walk without danger along the city streets.

People wave from their porches, passing motorists honk, or nod "Howdy."

Walking, walking.

I had almost forgotten there's actually a huge, historic bell located in front of the courthouse, and we stopped to look at it.

"Does it ring?" Drake asked, sticking his head in the cavernous, open bottom.

"Man, I hope not…especially right now," I told him.

He asked me about the "soldier" in the middle of town, and I told him all about it.

Walking, walking.

It was time to return home.

Fireflies lit our path as we continued on.

"Do you like it here?" Drake asked.

I stopped walking, grabbed him up in my arms, and hugged him tightly.

"Yes Drake, I LOVE it here," I said through tears.

"I love our home, and I love our city," he said. "I think I'll live here forever."

"I hope you do, son," I told him. "I hope you do."