these are the places i will always go...

...though i'm here in this far off place

my air is not this time and space.

+++

i invited bri over on friday.

i needed her help with an important gift.

+++

i pulled out all the ingredients.

my prettiest utensils and fanciest spice jars.

brought them all over to my kitchen table.

turned the blinds and let the sunshine flood my space.

i let briana control my pandora station.

first: come and find me 

+++

i am clumsy in the kitchen - but i measured so carefully this time.

poured the salt in my hand and felt it slip through my fingertips.

i got flour on my shirt. on my pants. even my shoes. 

i hummed through star mile.

whispered along to down in the valley.

+++

the recipe went quick. 

it was in the oven before i knew it...

so we painted ferns onto a piece of the softest linen.

my hair fell in my face. i cried. 

and felt my heavy heart beat along to broken chair.

+++

the oven timer rang.

we ran a tiny sharp knife through the warm shortbread.

tenderly wrapped it up in our linen.

and tied it closed with a cotton thread.

+++

i snitched some of the left over crumbs - let them melt on my tongue. 

i tasted the salt. 

the butter.

the sugary bits. 

+++

she played me one more before heading off.

thomas newman's any other name 

she had lot's of places to be this weekend.

i am so grateful that she spent a moment with me.

here.

photo of briana by alisha stamper