Favorite Age

"What was your favorite age?" the woman asked.
over tiny sandwiches, truffles, cups of tea. "Mine was 40."
Starting school at six, playing paper dolls
whispering with my sister in the dark of our room.
At nine, a move to Florida, living near the beach.
First date, first kiss, first time. Good memories.
18, getting married; 19, first baby, then three more.
Twenties a blur of diapers and schoolbooks.
Turned thirty on exotic, foreign soil.
Nana at 40, dancing at daughter's wedding,
more grandkids along the way, new joys.
Learning to be a goat rancher, a gardener, meeting new friends.
Personal triumphs just shy of 50.
Great times, interspersed with challenges and tears.
My favorite age? Not was. Not was at all.
"The age I am today," I said with a smile,
without expounding on the reason.


(c) Ellen Gillette, 2012