The New Day: A Tribute to a Life

The New Day:
A Tribute to a Life

The alarm rang at six-thirty this morning
just like always
Another day of family life
hair and teeth brushed
lunches and backpacks and kids packed off to school
A day like any other
but not like any other
that I have ever known
Someone new:
Told Jessie to have a good day
Drove me around to countless job interviews
Played PS2 games with Amber
Helped finish up the laundry
Raved about my cooking
Ran to the store for more soda
Helped Jessie finish her homework
Got my medicine when my tummy got sick
Listened to me talk about my day
Stroked my hair
Caught my moans in his mouth
Held me close as I fell asleep
Someone new will:
Hang the Christmas lights and help me play Santa
Attend school plays at my side
Learn my smell and my taste
Help mend boo-boos and broken hearts
Grill the pork chops
Comfort me when I’m scared or sad
Share talks and laughs and sighs
Be written into our new history
our new memories
Meanwhile
Someone else is learning:
That you can’t stand cherries
Love Chocolate Almond ice cream
Are habitually clean and tidy
Almost never pass gas
Suffer from chronic athlete’s foot, especially in the summer
Pronounce “G” and “J”
The scar across your left knuckles
The smell that always said “home” to me
The soft yummi-ness of your bottom lip
The way you feel inside them
Someone else is:
Washing the clothes I washed hundreds of times
Greeting you when you get home from work
Preparing the nightly meal
Learning your expressions when your
Happy
Sad
Angry
Scared
Sleepy
How long till this feels like normal?
Crystal French
September 28, 2006