I sat at the kitchen bar, a little out
of arm's reach, watching my kids. 
They had cleared their plates. 
They talked & laughed freely.

I was outside of it, 
gleefully if not comfortably 
new to this kind of irrelevance
in their lives. 

I sipped my drink & listened to
references I didn't get about
shows I hadn't seen or
friends I'd never met.

They'll be gone one day very soon. 
For now, it is enough to know
that they love each other
& share this table, this time. 

_{Vivian Maier, East 108th Street. September 28, 1959. New York, NY}