Goodbye Blowing Rock I
said Friday
in the pinkish salmon
light of dawn on the Parkway
grateful car was
not wrapped in fog
one deer already dashed
across the road.
Eleven nights of very
little sleep
less than four hours
each night
because of bed from
hell
tall old lumpy horrible
Keith left even earlier for same reason
also sofa and chair
were unsittable
for longer than five
minutes.
Thursday afternoon old friend Annette
texted to say sorry
she could not come for weekend
Dallas was too
hot for flight to take off
after hours and endless airport delays
it's just as well I didn't say plus
Friday dawn driving home
a psycho after so
little sleep
somehow I made it back to Pittsboro
by the
grace of God.
Today I was in the
pulpit
instead of lay person who was supposed to fill in
she seemed terribly nervous about leading worship
more than preaching
it’s like juggling
balls she said
I know what you mean I replied
sometimes I still drop a ball
or two.
Church seemed glad I
was back
despite Julia A delivering great sermon last Sunday
I watched the live
stream she didn’t use notes
not sure how preachers
do that
I continued her Bread
of Life theme
an old sermon
updated because time was short.
Explained to everyone I
came home early
because eleven nights
of no sleep
turned me into a psycho
they all laughed
handful of people confessed to me afterwards
they struggle to sleep
every night.
Mom aren’t you just
getting old and fussy
my mean daughter asked
no! I’ve slept in many
places
never had such an
experience
well you’re older now
she said unkindly
with eyes twinkling
mom I didn’t find the
sofa that uncomfortable.
I wrote a note to condo
owner
I’m checking out six
days early
because of horrible bed
this represents some hundreds
of dollars maybe more
I didn’t say
she wrote back so sorry
do you have recommendation for new mattress?
One of my peeps asked
if I came home early
because I felt
internally like it was the right thing to do
I paused and answered
actually yes.
