this weekend I met new friends
sang a homemade song in a croaky late-night voice
smoke clung to my hair for days
kayaked over sparkling lake water
listened to the throaty laughter of old friends reconnecting
missed my dog more than I expected
sipped a ghost pepper “hot pants” cider
cried in the car because grief still loves to ride shotgun
listened to the longest group-retelling of a love story
which might be my favorite way
of getting to know
a crew of strangers
