By Garrett Harrison
Burgers are the taste of goodbyes
The union, for a moment, of varied textures and tastes:
Crunchy lettuce
Soft bun
Sweet ketchup
Acidic tomato
Aged cheese
Savoury onions
Umami patty
And the bitter:
Pungent mustard
Briny pickle
Long anticipated, enjoyed, savored
Filling, sometimes painfully so,
Satisfying
Like goodbyes
There’s something about the whole that is more than the sum of the parts
And there’s something about the bitter
A moment long anticipated
Gathered together for that one moment
Reminiscing about the past, the journey together:
Miles walked
Meals shared
Hours of conversations
Work and play
Joys and laughter
Triumphs and trials
Failures
And the time:
Together
Being known
Looking forward to the next adventure
. . . But not together
Sustained by the remaining chips
And the hope of a milkshake
Torn apart
Shattered in a blubbering mess
Leaving a memory
Bitter, painful
But filling
. . . Satisfying
Each one unique in its combinations
And yet so familiar
Some leave a desire for more,
For what could have been
But the thickest burgers . . . and the richest goodbyes
Fill to bursting
~~~~~~~~~
Garrett Harrison is a Bible translation advisor in rural Papua New Guinea where he lives with his wife and two daughters. His passport country is the United States.
