valentine’s night
was wonderful
downtown
beautiful view
of the
frozen river
shared border
between
two countries
with
cityscapes
old and new
snow falling
no worries
about driving
bitter cold
warm company
a new dress
romantic
took a cab
to a
lovely dinner
in a beautiful
historic house
glowing with warmth
and
hints of
delicious food
and then
the play
one of my favorites
sweet
musical
love story
calm
and after
ready for
the trip back
into
the
comforting embrace
of
our warm hotel
but
the cabs
were hiding
in
places unknown
staying warm inside
remote garages
and
mg rescued
a woman’s lost glove
part of a another
happy couple
and
in return
we met them
they were
in the same
transportation predicament
waiting for their car
and she said
‘don’t worry.
you have a ride with us.’
and
we uber-ed
with the
random strangers
when
the driver
finally arrived
we immediately
headed
in the wrong direction
turn signal on
lost
confused
friendly
new driver
mario
second day on the job
in over his head
from brazil
no sense of direction
worse than mine
didn’t know the city at all
using his boss’s car
so much laughter
and we had
a crazy ride
and saw
our hotel
in the
opposite direction
drove through the city
more laughter
one of our hipster
fellow passengers
and tried to
take on the role
of navigator
she had begun
celebrating early
and was
much loved by her partner
who accepted
her funny side
and her state of
altered reality
that was clear
and we all
told mario
‘look for the biggest building in the city.
the one you see in all the pictures.
head towards the river.
you can’t miss it.’
but
somehow
he did
miss it
and
even more
laughter
and
survival bonding
and i
offered her
my rose
as a thank you
for the ride
as they finally
dropped us
and headed off
for places unknown
their own destination
even farther away
and it was
like being part of
a performance art skit
and
so glad
we held on
embraced the adventure
for the ride of our lives
the perfect ending
to a magical night.
—-
be willing to step outside your comfort zone once in a while; take the risks in life that seem worth taking. the ride might not be as predictable if you’d just planted your feet and stayed put, but it will be a heck of a lot more interesting.
– edward whitacre, jr.
