6:38 am (Love Letter)

  6:38am... I watch the first tinges of orange lick at the horizon through the rear-view mirror as we head West through Louisiana. Texas bound... again. I tried to wake you up to share the sunrise with me, something that is close to impossible in our everyday life together, where a crazy schedule hardly allows me a free hour, much less at six in the morning.
But now you sleep. Five minutes into your promise to share what would be our first sunrise together, your soft snores filled the cab of that Chevy as we conquered I-12 at 80 mph. But that's okay... You still hold my hand wrapped in yours, and every now and then you rub your thumb over my skin in your sleep, a gesture that makes me smile to myself as we put Baton Rouge behind us. It feels like I've been driving forever (after only two hours) before i hit that bridge... The one that you hate and I love, twenty minutes of almost-constant water and a natural beauty that just doesn't compare to anything else. And you... with your adorable inability to swim! This bridge makes me almost glad you sleep, so i don't have to worry about your nervousness as i accidentally swerve toward the edge of the bridge over Whiskey Bay (one of my favorites), a product of about two days without sleep.
It's 6:53, and the sky has finally lightened enough to see my own hands where i grip the steering wheel. By 7:30 the sun still hasn't made an appearance, and i finally give up and watch the road. Without opening your eyes, i hear you say "I love you" in a half-asleep voice. I smile and whisper that i love you back.
Soon you'll wake up, and we'll spend a very stressful weekend in Austin at your Mom's house, before we make our way back home to that humble little town on the Mississippi coast. But just know, it's all worth it, because of moments like this. That first kiss when you wake up and lean over to me with a smile on those beautiful lips makes my life worth living...