i miss the sound of an elevator door whooshing open and the loud ding of the bell that announces the floor,
the echo of people’s voices off of marble floors.
i miss the sound of dishes and glasses clinking as people dine
and the collective energy of people gathered together.
i miss the sound of the popcorn machine in the movie lobby
and the blaring intercom at the airport announcing flight departures.
the faint smell of someone’s cigarette as they sit and smoke on a stair stoop behind a restaurant during their break,
the taste of hot food from a restaurant kitchen.
i miss the varying decors of public spaces,
i miss museums and bookstores,
and most of all, i miss the arms of my daughter and my grandchildren
and my friends around me.