Have you ever
walked the sands of San Diego,
Maui, Cabo, Puerto Rico,
and the Arizona desert
known grandkids’ arms around your neck
cracked a double-yolk egg
acted in a play
seen Steller sea lions bask on Alaskan ice
hiked to Hanging Lake
tried fried frog legs
practiced Tai Chi
heard Neil Diamond, live
felt wind in your face on the back of a bike
worn leather gloves with cashmere lining

walked to school in the snow, uphill
raised a protest sign
soaked in a hot tub
smelled ozone before a storm
laughed so hard you couldn’t breathe
eaten an avocado
solved a Sunday New York Times crossword,
without cheating
steamed clams fresh from a Fire Island clammer
studied anthropology

scarfed down a whole bag of M&Ms
all
at
once

hovered in a helicopter
published a book
touched an Olympic gold medal
jumped on a trampoline
swum with dolphins
drunk clear water from a spring
won a race
loved a dog
served a cat
coached kids
conversed in French
made a quilt
watched a glacier calve
read The Art of Racing in the Rain
savored a buffalo steak, medium rare
escaped down a firefighter’s ladder, barefoot
made an igloo in your front yard

been kissed by a camel
spit in the Mississippi
witnessed a total solar eclipse
hit a slots jackpot
sipped Sangster’s Jamaica Rum Cream
bid and made a bridge grand slam
picked ripe raspberries
driven with a police escort
sniffed a Magic Marker
ridden an elephant
written a poem?
I have.