I was surprised at the many tears which flowed. I thought I was done with that. I am glad, however, not to be 'done with that'.

March 26, 2004 Friday night, and weary after the day and a sinus headache, I nevertheless wanted to go somewhere and soak up some good energy. And Julia was badly craving sushi. But, alas, the elegant gourmet spot was all booked, except for the sunny outdoor dining. I wanted to not chance a sunburn, and they had no sushi that night, owing to party preparations. So on we went. We didn't want a repeat of the usual restaurants. The India House is not yet open, so we drove further down the road. We've been wondering what the Rocky's Pizza place was like. They couldn't be bad, we figured, since they've been in Yuma as long as I can remember, even back on our very first visit many years ago. The big oval painted pizza outside their restaurant is quite memorable. But we'd never gone. Last night we went, and now we've experienced three different Italian restaurants in Yuma. One is upscale, 'not too casual and not too stuffy' as they advertise. One is more refined, now that they've moved to a new place, but still good solid 'food of the earth' type. And this one is old neighborhood, beer on draft, informal as can be. But the cooking smells enticed our noses, so we felt safe. Basic, call your number and come and get it, no frills, styrofoam cup ambience, but good traditional Italian cooking. If we'd gone to the upscale place, I was going to have ravioli, with three sauces and elegantly patterned vegetables. So I had the ravioli here, well cooked, plump cheesy circles under tomato meat sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. Garlic bread provided a nice compliment. Julia settled for beer and stromboli, which is the stuff that goes inside a pizza wrapped in a shell of pizza dough. Julia looked at the number we were given, and noticed '77' makes 'LL' when reversed. Both of us went into a tearful reverie of Laura. I could feel Laura's spirit in this casual place. The cook/cashier looked like an old friend of Laura's. Marie had spoken many times of wanting to start an Italian restaurant. There was such an aura of similarity in the personality, a direct temper, a forceful drive like that of our old friend. Laura would have liked it at this restaurant. I was surprised at the many tears which flowed. I thought I was done with that. I am glad, however, not to be 'done with that'. "Deep Cherishing" Return to the place of deep cherishing, embrace of self full and round. Quiet the moment and breathe, all rendering the deep cherishing moments of memory, shared looks of loves past and present, eye to eye in the fullness of time. Cherish the moment, sing to the thought of Laura-memory. Did she visit us once again, in the 77 reversed, become LL? Julia sees such signs. The red checkered tablecloth, the lady who was cook, so much like a scene from our past. Oh, the deep cherishing of Laura! This is celebration of life. These are tears not in sadness but in deep gratitude of knowing. Eyes so blue as Laura's, the deepest of sight, how with one look she could say so much. But raise we glass to you, tonight, over the checkered tablecloth. My lemonade sweet enough and sour enough to Julia's beer on draft, fresher for that, raise we the glasses, cherish we the memories. It is not of death, but life we sing. Oh Laura, Caramissa Mine, you are tucked close nearer than my breast, 'here'. I touch the space, beneath, the heart, deep cherishing, deep cherishing all. Say it on the fresh night air, breeze that brings your memory near,   deep cherishing, the song of those 'lucky in love'. Deep cherishing all, return to embrace of self. This night will not be forgotten. JAL, 3 - 26 - 2004

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