Initial conversation stilted. 
Took about half an hour 
to become FLUID again. 
Incredulous a year has passed
since we talked, only periodic 
texts, place holders. Distance 
between our houses a mile, 
friendship spans four decades. 
From weddings to widowhood, 
all rights of passage shared. 

Tonight from our barstool perches,
resumption of familiar cadence.
You share hilarious stories 
and QUOTE fascinating facts 
such as statistics on the number 
of single men our age living here. 
241 total, 44 of whom are 
registered sex offenders. 
No accounting for any other 
demographic that might disqualify
them as potential paramours. 

As always before, we spark 
one another’s attention, 
What I feared was BURNT
rekindled.

Heather