What I will miss when I die

My writing group, a brave band of five, has started up again with my friend and writing teacher, Barbara O'Neil. We meet every Wednesday at The Concord Library from 9:30 to 11:00 am. The writing practice is based on Natalie Goldberg's book "Writing Down the Bones" More details on the practice are in my post dated February 10th, 2010.

The prompt was " What I will miss when I die" This is the unedited version of what I wrote.

The feel of a warm kiss on my cheek.

hugs from my beloved boys

the green in peter's eyes

Alex's "hello beautiful" greeting over the phone

Teddy's soft fur

the smell of the ocean

the sun on my face

and the cry of a gull

poppies swaying in the breeze,

my camera

endless meanderings on my bike early in the morning

before most of the world has awoken

I will miss all of the beauty

and none of the ugliness

I will miss words

reading them

writing them

hearing them

I will miss snuggling up by the fireplace in winter

lighting candles for dinner

making soup

I will miss my husband

collecting stones

and wampum

and shells

picking up a roll of film

at the photo store

I will miss making art

writing notes

finding the perfect card for someone

I will miss color

and sherbet sunsets

and hours on the boat

I will miss the morning light in my bedroom and warm blankets on my skin

I will miss more than I know

more than I could ever imagine

and I vow not to waste

a minute of this precious life

this life that is a gift

my gift

every minute of it

life

it is a precious gift

I will not waste it.