best day

We drove at sunrise through the desert,

watching the oranges and pinks blur with our speed

and the heat rise from the sun's arms in this place.

You said you were hungry so I found a place called

The Black Bear Diner

and we came in right before the local rush.

My hair wasn't brushed and we both hadn't showered

and our waitress was Asian and bored.

I ordered the French toast and you had an omelet.

We watched a mother wrestle two young blonde children 

while the father spoke outside on his phone.

You stole a bite of my toast and determined that it was better than yours,

and we both looked up and smiled between bites.

You tipped the bored waitress well and I protested on our walk out

but then you shook your head

and we kissed before putting on our seat belts and resuming our long desert drive.

When she asked me what my favorite day was besides my wedding day

all I could think about was that drive and that stop,

and that prayer of gratitude for our existence

at the way your eyebrows raised when you smiled at me between bites.

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