17 Am I Supposed to be Happy

If by happy you mean as happy as a small child with

loads of candy, a puppy with a new chew toy,

the surprise visit of a faraway loved one—

then Yes, every metaphor is true, every statement,

word, and phrase. Wait. I have lied—that is all a lie—

and when I say I am content; it means I am existing

simply just existing, a whole life waiting to be lived.

Can you imagine the number of stories,

adventures and travels? Even now, I feel restricted by

my mundane life—one child at practice, a husband

busy at work. A sister getting married, another moving

jobs across town. A baby on the way, with eager

grandparents nearby. I wonder when this normality

will end and I can start my real life.