Being mindful of the moment is nice but
Can you do too much noticing?
This is my thought today
at the bookstore
riding the escalator back up to find my kids

I had gone down the elevator
since the down escalator was broken
and I guess there were no stairs
which upon reflection seems odd

The elevator had been dark and creepy
The bathroom had a dispenser labeled “Healthy Soap”
what’s the other kind?
The sale table had the cutest multiple choice bag
50% off but if I got it,
would I be a walking advertisement for standardized tests?

Riding the one working escalator up
I heard a kid, not mine, yell
“No! I have too many at home.”
books, I think, he must be talking about books
“Jimmy!” He yelled, excited
“Watch me!”
I sensed, with my mom-senses, him running towards the broken escalator

“Max. Don’t!” a grown-up said
calm, firm
I laughed because it’s nice to be out of those days
of hoping my kids don’t climb broken escalators
and then I laughed because that’s both true
and not true

I found my kids near the games
searching for games I wouldn’t buy them
lightly arguing about where to get dinner
we walked to the elevator
my middle child, 17 now, started towards the broken down escalator
mumbling something about how
he could still use it