The joy of archival research
Handling letters sent 100 years ago
The crumbling paper
Making historic confetti

When it's suddenly 85F/29C
After weeks of cooler temps 
And you take walk through the North Woods of 
Central Park 
Following the lake and the little river 
Spotting waterfalls
And fairy dens 
People out bird watching 
Picnicking and sun bathing 
Running and walking 
Strolling and sauntering 
Lounging and eating 
​It's extraordinary to think
It was all made by human hands. 

The delight of a home cooked meal
With a dear friend
Salmon and brussel sprouts with bacon
Home made beans 
Ice cream with chocolate sauce for dessert 
Sharing a bottle of wine 
And watching one of your childhood favorites
​Together  

The joy of a little trip
To see a new musical 
Traipsing out to New Jersey and 
Being blown away by truly phenomenal singing 
Drinking hot chocolate from the bakery 
After the weather has unexpectedly turned 

The joy of leaving work early
And hustling downtown to see a play
With a dear friend, and after
Debriefing over a 
French onion grilled cheese 
And a chocolate shake 
In a cozy diner

An evening with dear friends 
The gut-punching realization that your young friend
Who you've known since she was 12
Is now the age you were 
When you first came here
And now she's old enough to have a local bar
And favorite beverages at said bar 
The joy of a piña colada and   
Cocktails with pop rocks 
Talking theatre until the bar empties out
​Walking giddily through Harlem

It was warm enough to not need a jacket
It felt like I'd forgotten something 
The luck of an express train
Time to saunter through midtown
In the alley between 48th and 49th 
Paparazzi Dog and Rabbitgirl
Whimsy and delight and 
Socio-political statement 
On the way home 
Walking through the park
Instead of around it
Finding the fish store open 
Steamed tilapia in a garlicky sauce 
Paired with steamed broccoli 
Mashed potatoes and peas and 
At the end of the day
When the sun had set
​And the chill had crept back into the air
Sitting in bed 
With a hot cup of tea

A movie with 
Annette and Jodie
Like being with old friends 
And they're telling an extraordinary story
Of extraordinary women
Doing mind-bogglingly extraordinary things 
The endurance of the human spirit 
Against the odds 
"A diamond is just a lump of coal that stuck with it!"
Overcoming trauma
Overcoming the lacerations of jellyfish stings 
​And doing the thing you set out to do
You're never too old 
To taste your dreams 

Connecting with loved ones
With old friends 
With old self 
A return to writing
And routine 
Eating well 
Feeling good 
The Mmmm's
Morning pages
Meditation
Movement
Music
The purpose of art 
The purpose of life 
Finding connection
Amidst the chaos 

At the end of a tiring work day
I took a walk
South, about
Forty-ish blocks
And found myself in the North Woods of 
Central Park 
The sky was blue
The air was chilly
But the sun was warm 
The apple trees were in blossom
The bluebells and the lupines and tulips 
Were all out on display 
The brown stems of the trees have begun sprouting leaves of green
I pinched myself to think
I now live within walking distance
Of this historic oasis