he’d had enough, he told us. ten years here
after high school and going nowhere slow
as a sunday drive in the country. now
is the time to start my life over, he said,
time to go turn over that fabulous
leaf and find out what’s beneath . . . driving out
west to california, he proclaimed. there’s
some fine woman out there worth driving two
thousand miles to meet and she’s been waiting
her whole life for a swell guy like me to
make that odyssey just on the slim chance
she’d still be available and wanting
a man with my particular talents
and sensitivities. he’s on his way . . .

dmpitchford