No Poetry Today

Yesterday I met a 17-year-old when he brought my groceries out to me in the Walmart parking lot. I bought some wine in my order so presumably he’d need to check my ID, but he said “I don’t need to see your license because I believe you (said without irony or sarcasm) but can you give me your birthdate?”

When I gave it to him he was astonished and completely delighted. Turns out we have the same birthday and he had never met anyone with his birthday before. It was sweet and he said I made his day.

It made my day. I should’ve asked his name. I am not used to making connections like that. It just doesn’t happen in a big city, at least not for me, but that could be just a “me” problem. It is easy to stay anonymous in a big city.

Someone on FB in my new town asked if anyone could spare some laundry soap. I was stunned and then really sad. Then I found myself fighting to not be cynical and judgmental and that made me sadder.

I am a fish out of water here. When did I become so jaded and a snob?

I’m sure there’s a poem in all this but my brain is too tired right now. It’s been a really long week. I’m not complaining, honestly. I am so happy to be here. It’s Just going to be an adjustment.

Perhaps a bigger adjustment than I anticipated. No that’s not quite right… not bigger just different. I was thinking about all the things I will miss, like Uber, Greek food, and Starbucks, but the change is more about slowing down.

I was telling Tennessee that the lady from State Farm still hasn’t sent my electronic insurance cards and she told me to relax and give the lady a minute. It is going to take me a minute– to step down my pace and adjust my expectations.

I can hear the rooster as I write this and it’s as if he’s saying, ‘slow down’. Even the rooster is doing things in his own time, seeing as how the sun has been up for hours already.

Maybe I should just go back to bed. I’ve been going almost nonstop for weeks or at least it feels that way. Can I just relax today? Probably not. Tennessee called the living room my walk-in closet. She was joking, but it absolutely looks like that. It needs to go back to being a living room and that can’t happen if I relax.

Time to get a move on if I want to get things done.

Have a great weekend my friends.