Where Are You Going?<\/p>\n
By<\/p>\n
Jennifer Angelina Petro<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sometimes, while driving,<\/p>\n
I\u2019m thinking:\u00a0 All those other drivers–<\/p>\n
Where did they get into their cars?<\/p>\n
Was it at a grocery store?<\/p>\n
Was it in their driveway?<\/p>\n
Was it at a rest stop?<\/p>\n
Was it at a church, mosque, synagogue, temple?<\/p>\n
Was it at a twelve-step meeting?<\/p>\n
Was it at a restaurant?<\/p>\n
Was it at a hospital?<\/p>\n
Was it at a funeral?<\/p>\n
Was it at home after a huge fight with a loved-one?<\/p>\n
Was it at a hike?<\/p>\n
Was it at a corporate brass meeting?<\/p>\n
Was it at the side of the road after changing a tire?<\/p>\n
Was it at a pet store?<\/p>\n
Was it at the midwife\u2019s?<\/p>\n
Was it at a meeting of the KKK?<\/p>\n
Was it at a book club?<\/p>\n
Was it at a bookstore?<\/p>\n
Was it after a surprise birthday party?<\/p>\n
Was it at school?<\/p>\n
Was it at a soccer game?<\/p>\n
Was it at the laundry mat?<\/p>\n
Was it at a blind date?<\/p>\n
Was it at a wedding?<\/p>\n
Was it after having an affair?<\/p>\n
Was it at the police station?<\/p>\n
Or after a doctor\u2019s appointment?<\/p>\n
Or after going to a food-bank?<\/p>\n
Or after visiting a relative with Alzheimer\u2019s?<\/p>\n
Or after going to a porn shop?<\/p>\n
You get the idea.<\/p>\n
My mind asks these types of questions,<\/p>\n
And somehow I am still able to concentrate on driving.<\/p>\n
Of course, these questions beg another:<\/p>\n
Where are they all going?<\/p>\n
Where will they step out of their car<\/p>\n
And shut the door?<\/p>\n
Will it be at a grocery store?<\/p>\n
Will it be in their driveway?<\/p>\n
Will it be at a rest stop?<\/p>\n
Will it be at a church, mosque, synagogue, temple?<\/p>\n
Will it be at a twelve-step meeting?<\/p>\n
Will it be at a restaurant?<\/p>\n
Will it be at a hospital?<\/p>\n
Will it be at a funeral?<\/p>\n
Will it be at home after a huge fight with a loved-one?<\/p>\n
Will it be at a hike?<\/p>\n
Will it be at a corporate brass meeting?<\/p>\n
Will it be at the side of the road to change a tire?<\/p>\n
Will it be at a pet store?<\/p>\n
Will it be at the midwife\u2019s?<\/p>\n
Will it be at a meeting of the KKK?<\/p>\n
Will it be at a book club?<\/p>\n
Will it be at a bookstore?<\/p>\n
Will it be a surprise birthday party?<\/p>\n
Will it be at school?<\/p>\n
Will it be at a soccer game?<\/p>\n
Will it be at the laundry mat?<\/p>\n
Will it be at a blind date?<\/p>\n
Will it be at a wedding?<\/p>\n
Will it be to have an affair?<\/p>\n
Will it be at the police station?<\/p>\n
Or to a doctor\u2019s appointment?<\/p>\n
Or a food-bank?<\/p>\n
Or to visit a relative with Alzheimer\u2019s?<\/p>\n
Or to a porn shop?<\/p>\n
OK. You get the idea.<\/p>\n
Everyone starts wherever they are.<\/p>\n
Everyone goes on a journey.<\/p>\n
Everyone shares the road.<\/p>\n
Everyone ends up someplace.<\/p>\n
Everyone has the ability to get lost,<\/p>\n
To change directions,<\/p>\n
To turn around,<\/p>\n
To speed,<\/p>\n
To use the slow lane.<\/p>\n
Everyone is moving towards a destination.<\/p>\n
Everyone is risking a crash.<\/p>\n
Everyone looks in their rearview mirror<\/p>\n
And the road ahead.<\/p>\n
Most everyone sings.<\/p>\n
My parents used to have a medallion<\/p>\n
Of Saint Christopher stuck to their dashboard.<\/p>\n
May the angels and saints guide us all.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n