all of it

tonight while our son danced and our daughter cartwheeled and our unborn son twirled in your belly In the basement I sat with my hands on bare steel rotating the bar and watching the slight spin of a rusty plate taking a breath in preparation mind-body connection moments before I'd don a goody over a sweaty body to pick up our son and get tomato soup for our daughter who fights fevers like they aren't there in that moment I pause and I'm overwhelmed in appreciation for you and this thing this life all of it we built together the kids and home the move to a new state 8 years ago the attic now stuffed with totes our late night bedroom romps and sacrosanct sabbatical lunches the 2.5 year long deck project the too many drinks (and the not drinking) the late night board meetings first for me, then for you the monthly treks to Richmond when video calls with kids become church the daily peanut butter and jelly sandwiches our holy bread all of it the frustrations, tears, screams, and little tongues stuck out at us but also the loving caresses, the loving look, the family hugs nightly boardgames and occasional trips to the shore all of it perchè di te la mia tesoro