from here i can see

paintings tim made long before

he met me.

and i can see a good, solid piece of furniture

my former mother- in- law

bought for, and with me.

i can see a picture of my parents kissing,

in black and white

at the old polo grounds,

and a picture of tim's dad in high school.

tim's dad died two years ago this month.

i can see chairs and tables and mirrors and shelves

that have come into our house from a friend

i can't imagine not having,

although i just (re)met her less than five years ago.

as much as i love these things from her,

i love so much more her smile and laughing and understanding.

i can see photos from friends i've never met,

that hang in prominent places around my house,

inspiring and reminding me of the breadth of this new world i've found.

i can hear girls, ready for bed.

the sounds of a family about to spend an incredible ten or twelve hours,

just quietly sleeping

and retreating into the safety that comes

from being a part of the same household,

with the doors closed and locked, the cats at our feet, and all of our days behind and before us.

bedtime.

more soon.

xo,

tt