Remember This

It was an ordinary vacation dinner

Sun streaming through my daughter's hair

with live music,

My mother laughing, basking in her granddaughters' smiles

and beautiful scenery,

The girls chatting, teasing, laughing together

a light breeze, 

My father's face glowing in the evening light

and a setting sun

 My husband, relaxed and smiling

when it happened.

A veil lifted.

Past, present, and future

washed over me at once.

Memories 

mixed with the knowledge 

that this, too, would be just that.

And suddenly

my heart saw the overwhelming truth:

This ordinary moment
is special.
And it is fleeting.
Pay attention.
Someday you will long for this..

Feel it. 
Absorb it. 
Remember it.

I wanted to freeze time,

to grab it and hold on tightly.

But alas, instead

I blinked back tears. 

The music changed,

and time moved on.