Ragu, for homemade Sunday sauce.
Ramen, for homemade chicken soup.
Text messages, for dinner conversations.
Phone calls, for hugs and kisses.
A family room, for a single dorm room.
Friends, for neighbors.
Long car rides home, for a 5-second walk down the hall,
and nothing, for our family.
Eating dinner together every day
and celebrating huge milestones, birthdays, and accomplishments.
Watching World News Tonight with David Muir,
Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, Say Yes to The Dress,
and The Food Network, as water boils for tea.
In the kitchen or living room,
an atmosphere of happy, sad, anger, or excitement
where when you grow up and move out,
your memories will remain.