The only messy part of her house
Was the front of her refrigerator
It was a patchwork of
Black and white
Colored
Rectangular
Square
Five by seven
Eight by ten
Four by four
Faded and yellowed
Bright and new
Photos
Of
Friends
Family
Moments
Good times
Shared
With her
And without her.
Interspersed were
Newspaper clippings
Invitations
Notifications
Of
Parties
Meetings
Symphony dates.
Each one held
By magnets
Of
Bright Pink Lips
Martini glasses
Suns
Funny Fish
Crazy Ducks.
Each one given
By
People in the photos
People in the invitations
People who loved her
Bright pink lips
Martini glasses
Love of
Sunny Days
Funny Fish
Crazy Ducks.
This is how love is
Messy, chaotic, stuck together
This is how love is
Moments, people, gifts
This was her alter of love.
Her headstone.
Her refrigerator.

Lindsey Lane

My mother Elizabeth Durell Lane was born on November 4, 1921. She died on July 4, 2009. Today would have been her eighty eighth birthday.

Me and Mom, Mystic, Ct. July 2008