Puppeteering princess with pigtails races
through with squealing Barbies in a pink car chased
by prancing shelties clicking closely behind
annoying lawyer armed with hammer lords over tv screen
while ceiling fan whirs overhead
grinding ice clinks into a glass in the kitchen

My mind grinds to a halt

In a world of constant motion and chaos
calm confidence rests in silence

Reading held at arm’s length
glasses planted atop the salt and pepper
he sits across the room in concentrated study 

21 years of life together
gratitude whispers
reminds me
silver is gold.