The Patron Saint of Good Days

Who’s the patron saint of good days?

Of hair curling just right, in subtle back flips?

I ask because I found this picture of my mother

diving.

Red, white, and blue bathing suit,

wet blonde hair.

She’s reaching out, arms wide, back curved, legs straight.

Triumphant.

When she saw the picture she said,

Ha! You’ve got it upside down.

She was actually diving backwards

which is more impressive when you consider the way her arms look

so sure

like she’s seeing someone she loves across the room and saying,

I’m so glad to see you!

It’s been too long!

Some days my hair curls just like my mother used to dive.

Some days I get to take walks with her

or pick up the dry cleaning together

or sit on the porch of the house we both grew up in.

Things are so good I have to wonder which nun-like creature in the sky

woke up

and decided to look out for me.