My Heart

It was just yesterday that she was in my arms, screaming.
She always had so much to say,
even before she was able to instruct,
"Mommy, don't say 'solutely not . ."

She wasn't here before, and now she is,
principled and full of vim, inexplicable wisdom and love.
What part of creation gifted this sprite?
Why am I the lucky one?
Now she's off to see the world, and my heart goes too.

Spread your wings,
shine your light on the world, little one.

Notice

There's more to this moment.
Time stops.
Time isn't.
The air is electric.
There's a need to understand, a reaching, then the thread is lost.
We try to remember what we know, but the best we can do is notice.

Happy Birthday Mama

Happy Birthday, beautiful Angel.

This photo of my sweet mom, Jeanine McKenzie Allen, is one of my favorites. The candid moment of her coming in from the snow captures the love and joy she emanated, effortlessly. What a lucky girl I am to have had her for 46 years.