The shredding has begun.

He sits watching Democracy Now,

the screen showing subtitles as the

shredder hums like the 2004 cicadas

(Brood X).

Papers from all our past lives--

Walnut Wood Lane in Burke

then on Arlen Ave in Annandale, where we

lived in Sue's basement.

Kalmia Lee Court on Falls Church.

Gunsmith Square (where in September of 2002,

we lost 16-year old lovely Beah) in Reston.

Papers from the condo

On Freetown Court in Reston,

owned from '93 to 2006.

We kept moving in and out of it,

renting to others when we were out.

That tiny condo saw more of our lives

than the other places.

We have paid mortgages, phone bills,

electric bills, gas bills, condo fees,

homeowner association fees.

We have paid for pool passes,

tickets to dance performances,

developed countless rolls of film.

Now we live at the lake.

The grandchildren swim all day,

eat 4 or 5 meals a day just to keep going.

They love jumping off the dock and

swimming to the little island.

Next month we'll all visit the little beach house,

bought with the lucre from selling our former lives.

If we do this right, the grandkids will only know

how much we love them, and not

how many past lives we lived to get here.

The shredder has quit,

overheated from its task.

The world continues to evolve

as Democracy Now delivers

the bad news.