ROAD TRIP!

i went to connecticut this weekend.
i did.
i'm from there, my blood relatives are all there, and my youngest darling daughter,
maple star, was featured in her high school's fall drama production,
and she performed like a F*ing super-expert champion of acting!
yes, i am biased, of course,
but she dominated her role as mrs. everett p. osgood,
in michael mckeever's 'suite surrender'...
there's something that explodes like the best fireworks inside your heart
when you see your child thriving in their environment, through their own efforts and skills,
in circumstances they've worked to create, to showcase their ability and accomplishments.
i am proud as hell, and very impressed, as well, to see my kid doing great things,
and flourishing in the direction she's decided for herself.

awwwww.
i never used to be a deeply emotional person.
something is definitely different.
everything is, maybe.
i'm grateful for the time i've been given to bear witness to the growth of my girls.
it's really somethin' else.
AND,my sister mary grace,her husband tim, and my niece cash,
as well as my ma, and my home-for-thanksgiving daughter harvest,
their ma, their stepdad keith and both his boys were ALL in attendance, too.
you know our style, neighbors-
too much is the right amount,
and shoutouts to everybody for being so supportive and psyched.
-
***********
breezy came for the journey.
yup.
we've got a relationship that defies conventions,
but we got it together, together, and got on the road like a couple of warriors.
it was her first time hangin' with the whole gang, her first time meeting my girls,
and most of the other other folks who were there, too, as a matter of fact.
we spent a LOT of time in the car, and all of it was occupied with excellent conversation.
yup.
not even with any background music or nothin';
just two people who care deeply about each other, communicating about everything.
i like that.
heck, i love that.
so, now everybody knows who everybody is....faces to names, and so on.
it was a wild whirlwind back and forth day to night and back again kind
of roundtrip roundhouse kick to the jubblies-
and i'll be honest-
i worked harder than if i'd gone to work, navigating time and space and traffic
to get where i needed to be and go where i wanted to go...
even better?
i'm doing the whole thing again, but instead of breezy,
i'll be traveling with crabtree,
and that's nowhere even close to as fulfilling.
yup.
it's still really happening, though, so i'm getting ready for it.
cooking food at my ma's house, in connecticut, to give thanks,
while the rest of my family does their own thing within spitting distance-
grown-up lives are weird, huh?
yeah.
the unfolding present is really sort of surprising,
and for the record, i've never been a fan of surprises.
this is What Is, and it sure F*ing is;
never quiet, never soft.....