I recall a time. Several years ago.
Momma was doing laundry.
An ordinary day. Bending over the dryer.
She casually threw out her back.
Howled at the pain.
I was on my way out the door or grabbing something from the fridge.
Not thinking twice-I laughed...I laughed at her pain.
Her suffering not severe, nor my laughter entirely sincere.
It was the surprise pain from such an ordinary event, that had struck me.
It's not like she just ran a marathon. Or even was training for an event.
It was laundry.
The simplest thing. What a strenuous chore.
She said some common thing like, "Oh you laugh now..."
I am older now than she was then.
What I wouldn't give to laugh at her-or her me-just ONE more time.
Such a random thing, to remember a non eventful casual moment in passing.
Nothing special, nothing attained, no take aways. Just a blip.
On days still when I feel like being a brat, I can hear her laughing at me.
She didn't hold me to it. Knew I was just simply getting it out.
She laughed at me, as I had her, because she knew,
I was bigger than my annoyances.
She laughed because she loved simply sharing a stupid moment.
She laughed, happy to be chatting.
Today, older now, I feel my back.
I am doing laundry, laughing as I go...
I get it now.
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