Trivia

The envelopes would arrive at random:

filled with clippings, sometimes

highlighted in yellow, with a Post-It

reading "Trivia From Mom." Dear Mom:

here's some trivia from the living.

I refilled a prescription today, and

picked up the dry cleaning. I've been

wearing your cashmere shawl

on cold days -- believe it or not

we still have those. My son

practices the Four Questions nightly

before bed, earnest and sweet.

Do you remember typing them

on your IBM Selectric for me,

transliterated -- one of my brothers

must have sung them to you --

so I could sing them before I knew

Hebrew? You'd be proud of him.

For a while I was afraid

we'd left one of his dress shoes

in Texas at your funeral, but

it turned up at his father's house.

I can go hours at a time, forgetting

that it hurts that you're gone.