Innocence

I was leaning up against a pole in the pavilion when a small child caught my eye.  She was staring intently at me, so I turned and smiled.

"What did you do to your arm?"

I was sporting a pump site on my arm that day.  "You mean this?" I said, pointing at it.

She nodded.

"Well, I have diabetes.  This thing gives me the medicine* that I need to keep me healthy.  It comes out of this." I said, as I pulled my pump from my pocket.  "This is an insulin pump."

She continued to stare, unsure.

"Does that make sense?"

She nodded quickly, and went back to her coloring book, apparently content with my answer.

I smiled, and turned my attention back to the yelling coming from the dunk tank about 10 feet away.  It took me a minute to realize what had just happened, and then I found myself wishing that everyone were content with such a simple explanation.  That that is really was just that simple.

*I know this isn't the most accurate term, but through the years it's proven the best way to explain what insulin is to young kids.