What I saw in my first year

I saw bright lights, and my mom’s smile and tears

I saw her face and glasses, I saw my father’s chest

I saw doctors who cared and nurses who knew

I saw grandmas and big hugs, kisses, songs and love

I saw cameras and phones and people with gifts

I saw life in my bottle of milk

I saw my cat wondering and purring around

I saw soccer games and big men with basketballs, myself on the Garden’s big screen, and even a Super Bowl parade

I saw my mommy’s kitchen and her tender cooking

I saw planes, trains and automobiles

I saw snow and sand, skyscrapers and huts

I saw men in robes, in tuxedos, in uniforms and microphones

I saw Broadway, a concert and the beach

I saw fall, colors and art

I saw snow and warmth

I saw babies and made friends for life

I saw turkeys and giving thanks, understanding the meaning of “grateful”

I saw candles and parties and birthday songs

I saw a tree full of lights and gifts with smiles

I saw family faces in What’s up, and then saw and played with twin cousin Dimitri in real life and it was much better

I saw kindness and a helping hand as my mom waited in line, pushed my stroller and boarded the T

I saw the clock turn twelve and the page being blank again

I saw the cockpit of a plane and snow turned to sun and sand

I saw the deep blue and felt salty water

I saw penguins and sharks and fish in tanks

I saw books and libraries and big little kids with toys

I saw the world move from my swing

I saw spring break party in Miami, New Years and new Hope in Manhattan, Easter in Grandmas lovely hugs, July 4th Baptism fireworks in Chania, proud Gay Pride in DC and Labor Day sunsets in Hydra

I saw Marathon runners beat the pain and waved the Greek flag on the parade

I saw bbq’s and cookouts and men over the grill sharing food, sweat and laughter

I saw a wedding and a new family being created

I saw cousins and celebrated new names and new beginnings, and my Nona’s unconditional love

I saw movies, directors and big men crying, paintings and photograph exhibits and a space museum

I saw my toes as I kept walking, and even if I felt down I kept getting up

I saw the word from below and it was big, overwhelming and scary, but I looked up and everyone smiled back and offered a hand

I saw more people looking down at small screens than scattering the horizon

I saw a world that can be mean, but I choose to see the love and kindness that I saw surround me