Do you remember?

A range of memories, this one from years ago on a vacation trip. Ah, the things we do in our twenties. Still, we met the best Chrysler Mechanic in Montana. 

Do you remember

When the night was falling

In Montana

The car headlights

Growing dimmer

And dimmer

We thought we’d never make it

Yet still

We pulled off the road

Found a place to sleep

Ir smelled of cigarettes

But the owner knew

The best Dodge Dart mechanic

In Montana.

He agreed to take a break

From his hunting trip

To fix our alternator.

Do you remember

That trip?

The lights growing dimmer

And dimmer

Yet still

We made it

Yes

We made it’

We barely made it

Off the exit  ramp

In the dark.

Entirely possible

Asheville was a little like Iona, which was a little like Santa Fe. I'm not sure if maybe it's in the rocks.

In vacation mode

It is entirely possible

To meet the woman

Who had to wait for her dinner

Last night

One table over

Because it was delivered

To you

Instead.

It is entirely possible

To meet that woman

In the thrift store

The next day

Oh you’re the one

Who got my dinner

She says

The one

Without mushrooms.

I say

That was me

Except I wanted mushrooms

With mine.

Today

She says

I want a hamburger.

In vacation mode

It is entirely possible

To have conversations

Like this,

Count them somehow

Significant.

Consolation

Re-entry today. Consoling the cat is task number one. Tomorrow we pick up the kitten.

We are home

Consoling the elderly cat

Yes

We love you

Yes

We will stay home

Awhile.

I declare today

The last day of vacation.

Re-entry must be taken

One day at a time

Like everything else.

We console the cat.

The refrigerator

Must be cleaned.

Grocery shopping

May happen.

Friends

Of course here changes with time. We leave for home today. First we stop in Asheville. I heard from friends in Thailand this morning. My beloved just heard from the church grease-trap people back in Illinois. Hmmm.

My friends are spread

All over the world

I should have known.

Me

I stay put

Somewhat

Consider where we might move

Or not

When the time comes.

My friends are spread

All over the world

I have been planted

Here

For now.

Vacation plus planning

The point of vacations is not to accomplish everything planned.

It must be working:

This vacation thing.

I have lost track

Of the week

Entirely.

Even the planner

Among us:

She who must be listened to

Is still asleep

And not planning

At all.

We leave tomorrow.

We will wind our way back home

With our vacation brains.

We have not done everything

The planner

Has planned.

I guess we may

Have to return.

Vacation church

This is the problem with clergy visiting other churches. My tendency is still to assess the worship experience: What works, what doesn't. It doesn't matter that I mainly worship in the pew these days. I am on vacation, which means "vacation church." The bread was square. The wine tasted like grape juice. My daughter told me it was wine. If so, it was a grape juicy wine. It was good to find out that children are still children here.

We sat in the back row of church

In Black Mountain.

The music was lovely,

Even supplemental.

There was a massive Jesus window

Behind the altar

One arm to the sky

One arm down

So we could tell

He identified as both God and man

But He was still

Very white.

The bottom of the window

Held mountains.

The young boy

At the end of our pew

Crawled under the pew in front,

Then back,

Then under again.

People laughed.

A good sign.

That massive Jesus

One arm up

One arm down

Will stick with me

For a while.

Not in control

We all have decisions to make all the time. I declare this is day one of our vacation...no matter when we leave. We have a reservation for seven nights at an airbnb in North Carolina starting tomorrow night. We may only stay there six nights. Still... I declare... this is day one of our vacation.

I am not in control.

The kitten has reset certain settings

On my computer

By walking on the keyboard,

Clicking unknown keys.

I am not in control.

Three of us are leaving today

For vacation

The other two are still asleep

With clothes in the washer

And dryer.

They arrived home at 11

Last night.

I am not

I am not

NOT

In control.

I am awake

And writing this.

We may be a day late

To leave for vacation

So I have begun my vacation

Here,

Hot coffee in my hand.

I watch the cats,

The sun pouring

Through the window.

My two companions

Are still asleep.

Vacation

Vacation without a catbox. Hooray.

The kitten will not

Go on vacation

With us.

The kitten gets a vacation

Of her own.

As does the older cat.

As does the turtle.

I am ready

For time away,

Time to sleep

Time to write

Time to learn a little

Non-stress yoga

Without a catbox.