ME, I Am That Old Lady

I am that old lady,

crouching down along

the sidewalk

gently cupping the beautiful

Daisy in her hand,

silently whispering,

“Good job, God!”.

I am that old lady,

who will purposefully

wander into the

closest House of God

regardless of the name on it

when I feel the need

to be with Him.

I am that old lady,

who sits down on the curb beside

one of our students

who is waiting for

their parent to pick them up

because they just looked

too alone.

I am that old lady

who will randomly

break out in humming

an old, favorite tune

because it allows

warm memories to

wash all over me.

I am that old lady

who pretends shock or awe

when the younger girls

tell me of their exploits

knowing all along that I

could top their stories

and then some!

I am that old lady

who quietly applauds

the tattoo-getters and

pierced-nose or lip gals

because they have a

mind like mine.

I am that old lady who

will hug the poet and musician

because I have known

their joy and their pain.

I am that old lady who

rejoices in watching

a child at play,

remembering the ‘whoosh’

of the swing as it sailed

high into the blue sky,

or watching a child

hopping from one foot

to the other

in anticipation of that

ice cream cone.

I’m that old lady who

loved to watch cartoons

cuddled up with her kids,

then with her grandkids,

just to watch their faces

when that damn coyote

goes over the cliff yet again.

I’m that old lady who

puts fake dog poop on the floor,

or fake vomit in the fridge,

and who never forgets

April Fool’s Day for

the pure fun of it.

Judi Opager

April 16, 2021