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     Maria reminded me of the Morton salt girl in her bright yellow poncho but without the rain boots.  Instead she wore tennis shoes.  I took her hand as we battled the wind and the rain and made our way to the bridge.  The site was more awesome than I could have imagined.  The river overflowed the banks and the lightning lit up the sky.  The dark clouds rolled over the mountains blanketing the valley.  We sat on a rock soaked to the bone and watched the river rage. 

     Maria leaned over to me and asked if I wanted to kiss her.  I said I did.  That is when she stood up and took my hand and yelled over the wind for me to follow her.  She led me to the edge of the bridge.  I asked where she was going and she said she wanted to kiss me over the water.  I laughed as the torrents of rain pushed the swollen river over the banks.  Together we stepped onto the rope bridge dangling perilously above the raging water.  She held both support ropes and I had to let go of her so I could take hold as well.  We waddled to the center of the bridge with the wind and rain bouncing from our ponchos and soaking our exposed faces.  When she reached the middle a great clap of thunder shook the bridge.  I looked below my feet and over the bridge as millions of gallons of water rushed past carrying dirt and tree limbs and brush, All swirling away downstream. 

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     Maria turned to me and she lowered the hood on her poncho.  The rain drops bounced from her face as she screamed at the top of her lungs “I love you” I pulled my hood off, the wind wisped my hair and the water soaked my brow.  “I love you to, Maria” I yelled drowned out by the wind.  With that a smile came over her face as bright as the midday sun.  Another bolt of lightning struck somewhere nearby and our mouths came together.  The bridge was swaying in the wind and both of our hands held tight to the safety lines but our lips interlocked and our tongues came together. Her hair whipped in the wind and we were truly happy.

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