Smile

Raucous merriment does not appear on my profile.  I am a relatively quiet person.  I speak more with my pen than I do in person.  Even though laughter has never been one of my predominant characteristics, admittedly, I do smile a lot.

I smile when I am driving and Sirius Radio plays a song that brings me back to an evening when the blonde songstress wore a black satin gown and serenaded the dancers in a crowded room.

I smile when Will asks me if I remember an old TV show and questions whether or not his Father watched it with me.

I smile when the IPad beeps with a new message from an old friend in a far off location.

I smile when one of my Posse calls and says, “How about lunch?”

I smile whenever I hear anything about the NY Subway because that’s where I met Him.

I smile on the rare occasions when a real voice answers a customer service call.

I smile when I order Skirt Steak at my favorite restaurant because it reminds me of the Sunday dinners my Mom cooked so very long ago.

I smile every time anone holds the door open for me.

I smile whenever I look up from my desk and see the pictures of my four children and those they love.

I smile any time my younger sister asks for my advice, and I smile even more if she takes it.

I smile when an old friend of my husband’s remembers me with a phone call.

I smile whenever I think about Central Park and those incredible days when Danny, Timmy, Joan and I would share our sleds on a winter’s afternoon.

I smile on the rare occasions when the TV news is good.

I smile when I remember any of the days when there were six of us in the household.

I smile when I realize how blessed I am with a young friend who watches me carefully from the sidelines.

I smile whenever anyone mentions they have read something I have written.

I smile when something I bake is edible.

I smile every time I remember 58th Street and everyone who lived there.

I smile every time I hear someone is NOT running for President.

I smile when I leave for a trip, and I smile again when I return home.

I smile when I see Mike, my dependable limo driver, waiting for me when the plane lands.

I smile every time I hear from anyone in my family, and I smile even more when I learn they will visit.

And yes, there are moments when I cry, too, but not nearly as often as I am able to smile.