Dining at San Francisco's Chinatown
watching the rainfall from the window
chatting with my love above the cacophony of
Chinese voices, banging pans, and flaming food.
Walking through mysterious
Indian Ruins with him
which looked out to the surreal
and desolate Painted Desert
By ourselves,
feeling the gods
With another love
traveling the Moore's of England on
a cold yet sunny winter day
with endless rolling green hills
and English houses and villages
along the way
Drinking tea inside The Tate Museum
with a window view overlooking Big Ben
and the Thames River
Basking on the sunny beaches
of A Hundred Islands in The Philippines
with my mother and relatives
eating fresh grilled fish and squid
and swimming in the cool clear sea
Holding my niece for the first time
being so fascinated with her new born life
and gazing upon her lovely round face
as if an angel had been sent to our family
Cruising along the vast blue Lake Michigan
with my dearest friend
enjoying food, wine, and beholding the
monumental Chicago skyline
Taking my mother, niece, and nephew
to the local art museum
My ten-year-old nephew had
never been to an art museum before
and neither had my mother at seventy six
Engaging in many long conversations
around my friends' kitchen table while
either eating homemade pie or cake
and drinking coffee
Drinking ice cream soda in the quaintest town
in North Carolina with another good friend
Taking in the sights of Southern mansions
and black waters
Flying kites, fishing
and swimming with my father
on warm sunny days
before we lost him to cancer
when I was ten
Learning to do stand-up comedy
performing on stage
feeling euphoric
from the roars of laughter
And to think these are just some
beautiful experiences
May there be many more
to come
Olivia McGuire
