Colors of This Rainbow

Red: My current toenail polish. The kids’ tricycle that each has zoomed on, starting when Jedi was a toddler. A Connect 4 chip. Buzz’s Power Ranger toothbrush. A bloody lip one acquired from another. My heart, for them. Also my head exploding after a long day.

Yellow: 4 rubber ducks in their bath. The glorious sight of the school bus. Spongebob. Frozen waffles, breakfast of champions. No. 2 pencils. Falling leaves taking over our yard.

Brown: Beloved teddy bear. Lion, too. Cafe mocha pick-me-up. The color of Abby’s favorite pants. The frames holding cherished pictures lining these walls. Chocolate ice cream.

Green: The Incredible Hulk. A Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Buzz dressed up as either or both. The quilt on my bed. A shade of Abby’s eyes. The I’ve been a good kid at school stamp.

Blue: The color of boys. Literally, sparkling back in Jedi’s gaze. Though mine, too. Pajamas. Abby’s markered fingernails that won’t wash off. Our carpet, here. A plastic whale of a spoon. Sully, from Monsters Inc, what we’re watching while I’m writing this.

Purple: Abby’s Princess nightgown. Our living room curtains, a more subdued, almost burgundy, shade. One of many scattered crayons. The sunset, bedtime near. The smallest bruise from rough and tumble play.

Pink: Princesses. Dolls. A Tinkerbell dress, complete with tutu. My little girl, a speed of feist. Headbands and hair clips, she’ll take out as soon as I put in.

These are the colors of my life. My rainbow.