leo, 39

out this morning downtown to get a shockingly expensive eye exam and pair of glasses. i took the number 9 and sat next to a statue-like tall man whose impassive legs leaned into my seat. it hurt my back a little twisting to fit next to him. people greeting friends from the projects in the back of the bus gossiping and yelling at their kids. realizing that outside of work i'm so often with my babies, i don't quite know who i am without them. with them there are smiles, comments, questions, commiseration from others. i thrive on this attention. alone i am just an aging and overweight white woman with a bad back on the bus, going to get her spectacles at lenscrafters.

i'm allowed to be a little down on my birthday. i'm 39 now.