we had such a good time on that cruise ship-
our daughter, then seven, enjoyed the water slide
so much she cussed for the first time, confessing slyly
as she side-eyed me and her dad; she’s such a blessing
the kids ate mac-n-cheese and chocolate chip cookies
every meal, which in itself made it the deal
of the century; the cost of daily dinner stress
had really put our collective sanity to the test
out of us all, only my mother cried during the trip-
feeling abandoned by the tide, wishing the kids would rip
down the hall and into her arms with youthful ease,
wanting her hugs, her cookies, her mac-and-cheese
but they were just thrilled with unlimited ice cream
on the buffet, another water slide trip to end the day-
happy to run around that bountiful boat not caring
about what they needed or who they needed it from
INSTANT NOODLES 