Where Are You Going?
By
Jennifer Angelina Petro
Sometimes, while driving,
I’m thinking: All those other drivers–
Where did they get into their cars?
Was it at a grocery store?
Was it in their driveway?
Was it at a rest stop?
Was it at a church, mosque, synagogue, temple?
Was it at a twelve-step meeting?
Was it at a restaurant?
Was it at a hospital?
Was it at a funeral?
Was it at home after a huge fight with a loved-one?
Was it at a hike?
Was it at a corporate brass meeting?
Was it at the side of the road after changing a tire?
Was it at a pet store?
Was it at the midwife’s?
Was it at a meeting of the KKK?
Was it at a book club?
Was it at a bookstore?
Was it after a surprise birthday party?
Was it at school?
Was it at a soccer game?
Was it at the laundry mat?
Was it at a blind date?
Was it at a wedding?
Was it after having an affair?
Was it at the police station?
Or after a doctor’s appointment?
Or after going to a food-bank?
Or after visiting a relative with Alzheimer’s?
Or after going to a porn shop?
You get the idea.
My mind asks these types of questions,
And somehow I am still able to concentrate on driving.
Of course, these questions beg another:
Where are they all going?
Where will they step out of their car
And shut the door?
Will it be at a grocery store?
Will it be in their driveway?
Will it be at a rest stop?
Will it be at a church, mosque, synagogue, temple?
Will it be at a twelve-step meeting?
Will it be at a restaurant?
Will it be at a hospital?
Will it be at a funeral?
Will it be at home after a huge fight with a loved-one?
Will it be at a hike?
Will it be at a corporate brass meeting?
Will it be at the side of the road to change a tire?
Will it be at a pet store?
Will it be at the midwife’s?
Will it be at a meeting of the KKK?
Will it be at a book club?
Will it be at a bookstore?
Will it be a surprise birthday party?
Will it be at school?
Will it be at a soccer game?
Will it be at the laundry mat?
Will it be at a blind date?
Will it be at a wedding?
Will it be to have an affair?
Will it be at the police station?
Or to a doctor’s appointment?
Or a food-bank?
Or to visit a relative with Alzheimer’s?
Or to a porn shop?
OK. You get the idea.
Everyone starts wherever they are.
Everyone goes on a journey.
Everyone shares the road.
Everyone ends up someplace.
Everyone has the ability to get lost,
To change directions,
To turn around,
To speed,
To use the slow lane.
Everyone is moving towards a destination.
Everyone is risking a crash.
Everyone looks in their rearview mirror
And the road ahead.
Most everyone sings.
My parents used to have a medallion
Of Saint Christopher stuck to their dashboard.
May the angels and saints guide us all.
