Our last full day of family vacation drifted away

in the warm sunshine,

vague memories of work

not hampering me for a change.

I felt my soul drink in every once of warmth,

peeling off the layers of flannel and fleece,

drinking my coffee with my face turned to the sun

like a flower thirsting for life.

I watched as my children laughed and tried to catch raindrops and acorns at the Imax film, “Tiny giants”

I played through the Montreal science museum

With them as they shot virions at cells

and learned how static electricity worked.

I sat at the park,

talking about life with my brother and husband

while the children rolled in the sand

under the play structure,

alternating between squeaks of joy

and howls of bitter unfairness,

as only siblings can.

The moment clicked,

shutter descending.

I made a mental picture

of that moment.

Turning my face back to the sun,

I closed my eyes and smiled,

warm at last.