It was an ordinary day. Shelving books in the children’s department at the bookstore.

And then he walked in. A little boy all of 2 ½ feet tall followed close behind by his parents. My day was about to change.

“Hi!” I said to the boy. “How are…”

He zipped right past me towards a display of 5-Minute storybooks. Pointing at the books, he stopped and loudly exclaimed, “Wow!” with a catch of true delight in his voice.

In the next moment, there was another exclamation of “Wow!” as he looked at another book.

“Mom, look! Wow!” he called to his mother while pointing at a new row of books.

 “Dad, look! Wow!” he exclaimed while hopping up and down and looking at yet another item.

“Wow!” he said to a little book that he picked up and examined.

“Wow!” he said and giggled as he tried to pick up a big book and look through it.

“Wow!” he said and smiled at a stuffed animal that he hugged before placing it back on the shelf.

Every time he saw something, he exclaimed “Wow!”

I myself became wowed listening to this little boy’s ‘joie de vivre’! This needs to be recorded, I thought.

I turned to his parents and asked the boy’s age. I learned that he was 3-years-old.

With sincerity, I said to his parents, “You really need to record this and the next time you are feeling down, play this sound clip back and I bet you will feel happy again in no time!”

And, you know what, the wows kept coming for the next 15 minutes! In the periphery of my vision and the midst of my shelving work, I continued to watch and listen. No one else seemed to notice, but I did.

“Wow!” he said in a quiet voice when he was looking at a book of animals.

“Wow!” he said with pleasure as he looked at a picture book.

“Wow!” he said with a laugh turning to an imaginary friend by his side.

Literally everything this boy touched and saw received a “Wow!” reaction; a virtual high-five all around the room. I was smiling too. My heart and spirit were lifted as I absorbed his melodious string of ‘Wows!’ and put them in my memory bank.

It ended all to soon when his father scooped him up and announced it was time to go.

The boy was stunned into silence. As they walked up to the checkout line, I saw the boy cross his arms across his chest, and catching his father’s gaze, he said loudly, “Not Wow! Not Wow!”

I think of this boy often and the ‘Wow!’ factor always lifts my spirits and makes me smile.

In closing, my friends, I send you all good wishes and may the ‘Wow!’ be with you.

Good day! Melinda Grohol

1/27/2023