The Return

Well it's been awhile since I rapped at ya, but I've been out on vacation hitting the family reunion trail and when I got back in the middle of last week, I had only a couple of one-way trips on the bus that were uneventful to the point of boredom as in nothing happened and the journey was like ice cream with no toppings on it. Tasty, but nothing you couldn't live without. The trip had taken alot out of me and sleep came quick in the nights following my return.

Other than that, I was ferried around by friends and family or drove myself to errand or two which prohibited the use of the bus. I did drive to go see a movie up north Thursday night and struggled with wanting to drive all the way home instead of dropping the truck off at the park and ride and taking the 6 mile trip home on the bus. Logic finally prevailed and I blasted home on the 9pm bus within about 15 minutes anyway.

Tonight a friend took me to a baseball game straight from work and back again so I could finish up some of the day's loose ends til 1am which also prohibited me from taking the bus home :( It was freezing at 74 degrees and the sky was black as sackcloth, but we made it through without so much as a bolt of lightning.

I will be on the bus first thing Tuesday morning and will once again shun driving a five passenger truck six miles to work with myself as its sole cargo. Everything about that vehicle seems comically large now, even the key with which I use to breathe it to life with seems like a garden spade in my hand. Believe it or not, since I've been having to drive around a bit more this past week (not to mention hours and hours on the road to family reunion,) my levels of discontent and stress have risen in a very short time. The feeling not unlike molten magma coursing through the earth's crust, looking for a vent through which to pour itself and scorch the surface of the unsuspecting land with its glowing, red-orange river of stone.

On a lighter note, the family reunion was most excellent and the importance of children became very, very obvious to me. I traveled with my 2.5 year old nephew and observed his effect on those around him. He brought with him a sense of levity, a sense of pride which glowed like an ember of hope for the future, all wrapped up in a cute little ball of smiles and happiness, a wriggling ball completely unconcerned about the wars of man and politics. He sang along to his children's music from the stage of his car seat and we all joined in, tears welling in our eyes.

To see him at the home of my grandmother brought to mind images of my own youth there. Memories of sunsets, of walks in the garden and the amazing sense of discovery that you can only find in the countryside were remastered, colorized and retouched and made to be even more resplendent in my mind's eye as I heard his gleeful laughter as he sat perched atop Grepa's shoulders. To see him chase one of his cousin's around for minutes at a time from one room to the next, laughing maniacally at the tops of their lungs and slamming doors was indeed an odd treat of entertainment. Then later, at the family reunion, a trio of girls put on an impromptu talent show with singing and dance and a rousing rendition of The Star Spangled Banner sung as beautifully as only the innocence of childhood can. It was a beautiful thing to behold and I am so very glad I was able to go.

I hear from friends and family who have children and admit that they can be a challenge from time to time, but from my observations, they have the power to become a lens through which one can more clearly remember the treasures of one's past as well as help maintain a focus toward the future through present day difficulties, not to mention mow your lawn. So, if you haven't lately, call your parents and say hello. It might just make their day.