Holding on to the story

The 3 x 5 recipe card
is yellowed, dog-eared,
and smudged.

The original recipe,
handwritten in ballpoint
blue, has been tweaked 
and modified more
than once.

Cross outs and notations
scribbled in black; 
changes that made a good
recipe better.

I consider rewriting it,
putting it on a crisp,
clean card, but don't.

Because it would erase the story.

The story visible in the
handwriting of the young
woman I was with a 
new job in the city.

The story of a co-worker 
named Carol, who I knew 
only in the office, and only 
for a short time.

Of an early morning
discussion around the
water cooler.

The story of her generosity 
in sharing her recipe for
quiche when I said ... I've
never had quiche.

Of learning how to cook,
to trust myself to make
adjustments, to add a
little more of this, and
a little less of that.

In that recipe, and so
much more.