An ache in my soul

Malati always said it would be like this: "As soon as you decide to leave, you're going to find somebody." How right she was.

Today I fell in love with Ronnie's Ribs and Wings. Had me a pork chop, black-eyed peas, baked mac and cheese, a piece of sausage, and cornbread. Each one top notch. All these lonely months in Temple, and I never knew it had an authentic soul food restaurant. But there she was, complete with stainless steel warming trays holding tubs of food behind a glass shield, gas stoves in back with a pot of something simmering, fold out tables and chairs, and a satisfied looking black man smoking a cigarette outside the door. I have but one month left with my newfound darling.

Coming Friday: beef tips and rice. My heart breaks as it swells.