Waiting To Reappear

 I had a state park pass that was stolen, appaently, off the mirror in my van.  It was a LIFE pass, good for geisers, who do not have enough sense to lock their vehicle and leave the pass on display.  A lifetime of state park visits for free.  But, in a rare moment of clarity, the state sent me a new one for free.  They don't do that for the average working class person who can buy one for one year for whatever the cost.  We, seniors, are all going to die soon, anyway, so treasure us while you can, don't steal our passes, and when you run upon us on the trails, passed out on the ground, do not stab us with a trekking pole.  "He's well done.  I wonder where he parked his car?". 

The pass arrived yesterday but only after Nonie approached with a smile and asked me "How much do you love me?".  That being, of course, the moment any husband should take a deep breath and describe his notion of huge in as much detail as he can muster while, at the same time, getting ready for what may follow.  Which turned out to be something very nice.  She found my gold coin in her drawer.  I thought it was gone forever.  Just a tiny Kruggerand 1/10 ounce. But great nostalgic value, bought in 1980, and transported over many living spaces, including Walmart's parking lot, in almost fifty years before it disappeared.  How did it get in her drawer, you might ask.  I may have given it to her to look up something.  That was the first year they made the small slices of an ounce.  It was all I could afford then and it was a time when the world was crashing down financially.  We didn't understand what Volker was doing with his huge interest rate hikes.  Fifteen percent?  Imagine that now and start looking for a cave somewhere.  Matches could be expensive so learn to use flint. 

So on the same day two things I missed returned home!  That rarely, if ever, happens. What does it mean?  It's a sign to folks who believe unseen forces are always trying to reach us for one reason or another.  Like the time I was drinking and ... nevermind.  Karma is a real thing, for sure.  And good karma is better, no kidding.  Although the other is also helpful. 

Buddy Returns and Gator in the Bed

 

Little boy and baby lion 

mother's late tonight,

fur ball with a squeaky voice

fighting the night light.

Reach down grab him

be the mom, up here!

In the bed!

Lions work an alligator

when it leaves the water.

The door was locked when dad

went out,

mom had to find her daughter.

When a reptile's in deep water

he is the master gator,

grabs  a lion by the foot

will flip him, eat him later.

James River Bridge, Richmond

 

Dark Time

 

Virginia Beach Flying

 

A Narrative Vignette or Flash Creative Nonfiction Story 'Let My Chickens Go'.

 

Today, she said, "I want some chicken, KFC, downtown" and so we loaded up the car and headed out.  Up and down the mountain roads, nothing ever flat.  I was the right side passenger, with headphones on, listening to tuning forks.  Filling up on dopamine.  Hopefully.  The jitters like to stay away when the D topped off.  My new plan for being well: Headphones and the sun.  Puffy clouds and lots of trees.  Not driving and away from thought.  Being empty, blessed and taught.  Taking in the views flash by; family homes, storefronts, a river side.  Cars, of course, are all around.  Don't think about them.  Just riding inside one of the same. My wife used to drive 18-wheelers.  I can relax with her in charge. 

Nonie does most of the driving.  Dealing with the traffic. Driving down  steep, long hills, braking occasionally.  Past the place where washers, dryers, sit next to the road. Piles of them exposed to weather, "Parts Are Us" to go.  Past the Pizza restaurant big curve, house we didn't buy.  Up to the stop light, old high school, a craft show there tonight. Drug store on the corner.  Sign says get your shots.  Let them vaccinate you.  I have to ask "Why?".  Twenty-seven thousand days and more been here and stayed alive without going to a drug store and getting powerful medicine injected into my veins by a pharmacist.  My nervous system is already half wrecked.  We are trying to save the other half not knock it off.

Rain This Evening in the Mountains of Virginia

 

It rained with great intensity tonight around midnight.  Water came down on the tin cover for the cars and made a lot of noise.  There wasn't any thunder and lightning but the power went off for a few minutes.  When it came back on the beeps rang through the house and I was afraid they would wake Nonie up.  But she didn't stir.  Then the little planetarium I have set up in the living room turned on and spread a picture of the moon across the ceiling.  It slowly moved with stars around the room while I sat in my kickback and said, "now isn't that something".  I had just finished taking some magnesium which is supposed to help you get relaxed and go to sleep.  The frig lit back up and I was looking in there for something which, of course, is not a good idea at midnight.  There was a bag of delicious looking summer squash in there our neighbor, Dave, just gave us this afternoon.  Our other neighbor, Rick, had also shown up and gave us some herbs from his garden.  Rick grew up next town over from me in Massachusetts.  Small world.  Anyway, I got back in the living room and watched the constellations for a few when I suddenly felt the love of God for just a moment.  And then there was, after all, a bit of thunder off somewhere.  And the puter is back on so I write.  I feel humble and deliciously rich at the same time.  Goodness reached out like the rain and, for moments, remains with me tonight.