signs

i'm in the checkout

line when i hear the

checker say shit under

her breath and grab

some paper towels

and a plastic bag

to wrap up the exploded

kimchi

oh sorry, i say, as

she wipes the orange

pungent garlicky sauce

off her hands

do you want to run

and get another one?

she asks and i think

about it and say

nah, maybe it's a sign

i shouldn't get it

she nods her head and

says, i hear ya

they're everywhere,

those signs, i say

but are we looking?

and i nod

and she nods

and she asks me

about the tea tree oil

and i tell her i make

my own mouthwash

and she talks about

how important it is to

really chew our food,

she says

it's all about saliva, and

that good bacteria

and we share some of

our favorite gut-friendly

recipes and how much

sleep we need as we

age and how important

it is to be kind

and look people in the

eyes

and say thank you

and when she puts

that last thing in the

bag i look her in the

eye and say, thank you

and she says, thank you

for teaching me about

tea tree oil

and i say, thank you

for reminding me to

look for signs