Road Trip
Cross country. Over 3 thousand miles. Almost coast to coast.
I did it once. With her by my side.
From Georgia to Washington state. In a 1990 Nissan Sentra.
Through the central south and working our way up north across the great plains.
Sometimes just ahead of a storm that could become a bad scene.
But we kept driving.
Once it rained so hard you couldn't see more than 5 feet in front of the car.
Got eaten alive by mosquitoes changing the oil in South Dakota.
One day we did 500 miles. My ass ached from so much sitting.
We used to have little rituals as we sped down the freeway.
She'd read the newspaper to me in the morning.
We'd even eat while we drove.
She was a great cook and made tomato and basil sandwiches for us.
We saw so much it's hard to remember. It's a blur.
St. Charles and the Mississippi river sticks out,
and many a Cracker Barrel restaurant. Always good for a pit stop.
Sometimes we'd get amorous.
I'd reach over as she revealed her pussy.
I would rub her until she came.
We were multitasking as they say.
Another of our little rituals you might also say.
Driving down that freeway—highway—whatever way.
We even went to see one of her old boyfriends on the way.
He had a side gig in a band. He was a drummer.
They were playing a wedding in Anacortes, WA.
His wife showed up when she heard his old girlfriend was coming to visit.
The old boyfriend greeted her. It was a piece of the puzzle. Her past.
They looked at one another, visited, and then later
the moment came when she was able to close that chapter.
I was glad we went to see him.
We left bound for Seattle.
As we headed east back to I-5 it was like a scene in a movie. Our movie.
One scene ending, another beginning.
Disturbing memories were coming back to her now.
From many years ago.
She hadn't been there since she was a teenager.
I didn't know what to expect.
That's the way it was with her.
Sudden emotional storms, personality changes, distant looks,
intense intimacy, nagging confusion.
Our road trip was more than just the driving part.
I think our whole relationship was that journey.
I don't regret it, but I am thankful it's over.
