I dropped my friend Jessica off at the airport early this afternoon.
We stood around and joked a bit, talked about a project we are doing together,
waited for her group to be called.

We exchanged a long, deep hug, a quick kiss as she picked up her bag,
and she turned and walked down the ramp to board.

This was goodbye number two to as many close friends in as many weeks for me.

I turned and walked slowly away and thoughtlessly traversed my way
through the airport and out to the public transportation pick-up.
The high winds from earlier had died down a bit and turned to soft rain.
It rarely rains in the desert.
There was a loud thunderclap,
and the rain come down harder,
the thunder making those around me jump.

I stepped out into the causeway
and turned my face up to the exquisite downpour
turning my arms and hands out to soak up every drop
I could manage to get beneath,
a dance,
a dance of relief, of sorrow, of everything I have lost
and everything that I seek to regain.
I inhaled the scent of the storm
and I dared not think of love,
but-
I did wait
for the thunder
to come again.