thanks

...for waking up with cold air conditioned feet,

for the ending of LAKE SHORE LIMITED,

hash browns with cheese and onions and peppers,

the asphalt ramp into my driveway,

the men who poured and tamped it down,

Mountain Dew and popsicles after mowing the lawn,

Rita Marie trying to fix me up,

being seen as worthy to be fixed up,

Tavish asking about and poking my little toe,

falling into a rhythm with Tori,

asking our familiar questions of love,

carrot apple juice "on the house,"

a second line parade in a distant city,

an email from a woman whose hand I once held,

the lobby of the new Capitol Theater,

the revitalization of a neighborhood,

walking around it without memories peppering the experience,

that sleepy long curve onto the shoreway,

the woman in the coffee shop,

her lavender orange scones,

the way she made sure to say good-bye,

and I made sure to linger long enough for her to do so,

the ease of exchanging one simple joy between us,

and the picket fence white of tonight's moon.