This morning, the head of our table was empty.

Grandma's kitchen, plastic coffee cups, coffee thermos, table salt, playing cards, grease, dirt, barn, red pickup, tiny farmer's calendars on the dashboard, christmas tree, the Homeplace, flannel shirts, the Crown Victoria, firetrucks, falling asleep in the chair, religion, wheat, cows, thick fingers and fingernails, sailboats, lighthouses, robes and jewelry for Mema, history, storytelling, electrician, romance, rebel, cigarettes, alcohol, head of the table, quiet eyes, dry wit, silent affection, dirt roads, sturdy, nostalgia, handsome, savior, husband, dad, grandpa, papa bob.