Doctor Grandma

As I sit and listen to firecrackers
in our neighborhood,
and wonder how long they will last,
how long dogs will cower under covers
and animals in the park think their life is past,
I think of total strangers —
the ones we met in airports–
The “snowbirds” going back to Florida,
bought a condo, didn’t like it,
headed to Fort Myers,
They smiled freely with dancing eyes,
sharing bits about their lives,
were happy with each other;
Another couple next to them — the woman,
heavy makeup, self-absorbed,
her husband staring at us, then Naylah,
confused, dumbfounded, back and forth,
trying to figure us out;
The lady in a wheelchair, patient and kind,
not really worried about the long line,
said she was “thinking about the end result”
and knew it would all be worth it;
the lady checking our IDs and bags
who barely mouthed her words,
wanting to go home,
she looked for her shift to end;
The woman on a plane, on her phone,
giving orders, making arrangements,
losing patience with whoever it was
on the other end,
her child, excited, next to her,
wanting mommy’s attention;
The young man who fell sound asleep,
mouth open, lost in a dream,
the steward trying to give him a drink
finally giving up;
a baby who cried throughout one flight,
another who played happily;
the Captain who made many announcements
none of us could hear;
I think of them all,
how absurd it was,
all of us 2 miles in the air,
never to meet again;
I hope they met their connecting flights,
got home safely, luggage in hand,
now sit home with family or friends,
as we look to a new year,
and now it seems, fireworks have stopped,
but sirens tell me others have not,
their new year starting with trouble;
so now, I brush teeth and go to bed,
look forward to seeing the sun again,
and waking up, tomorrow.
cfblack, 1-1-25 1am