Some might celebrate today as national Pot Day, but for us it’s twenty years of marriage. 20 years on the 20th – the only time this will ever happen – another reason to mark the occasion. The last month, however, has not been easy with packing, loading, closing on a new house, kidney stone pain, driving 3,500 miles, and the most recent stress of not having our possessions. The chandelier that we bought to honor our china anniversary is somewhere in a warehouse. The purchase was a far cry from our original plan of traveling to China. Only domestic excursions have been possible during this year-long pandemic.
Here we are in Venice, Florida with a new bed after six restless nights of sleeping on the inflatable. My back feels better already. At least we’re done with hauling our bulky, heavy luggage and boxes in and out of hotel obstacle courses consisting of stairways, elevators, and parking valets. Portland, Ogden, Burlington and St. Louis were all overnight hotel stays, followed by five nights in Indy with my wife’s sister and her family from Indianapolis to Atlanta. This provided the opportunity to rest from out-patient surgery and the insertion of a stint. We also got a little more time to visit with friends since we weren’t rushing to beat the moving company. They have yet to find a plan to get our things to us – and we’re getting nervous.
Tally watched me swim this morning. Hopefully, the drier, sunny weather will keep her feet from smelling like Frito’s Corn Chips (scientifically known as Brevibacterium) thanks to the dampness of seven years in Portland. All of us are done with long car rides and fast food stops, with plans to stay home as much as possible, despite the relatively empty living space. I wrote this poem as a tribute to our cross-country journey and twenty years of marriage that started with an impromptu date at Eddy’s restaurant. There were no sticks, stones, or broken bones – just stints and kidney stones.
Stints and Stones
Twenty-years of marriage,
Went by in a snap.
But these last few weeks,
Have been full of crap.
Paperwork to sign,
Notary to hire.
The woman I love,
To further admire.
Boxing and loading,
Took its toll.
Venice, Florida,
Our retirement goal.
I got new shoes,
Packed by mistake.
And ear buds once lost.
As your back began to ache.
A chandelier not China,
Our anniversary treat.
Anxious to leave rain,
For sunshine and heat.
Little did we know,
That all that we own.
Would sit in Portland,
For how long? – unknown.
From kidney stones,
To our missing stuff.
Crossing the country,
Was more than rough.
Though not like the Donners,
We had Freddy’s to eat.
McDonald’s and Arby’s,
Tally’s Frito Feet.
She was a trooper,
Bored with the ride.
Anxious for stops,
And to go outside.
First night Ogden,
Second Burlington.
Where hospital visits
Had just begun.
Closing by mail,
But no close Chase.
Six-hour drive,
Open Kansas space.
St. Louis stairs,
Atlanta even more.
Cumbersome carryalls,
And baggage galore.
Missed out on Amanda,
But found some “green.”
As we checked out,
The Hot-lanta scene.
In-between surgery,
Debsie’s to heal.
Meeting with Susan,
MZD gals meal.
Cole’s 3rd birthday,
He meets his GUM.
Murphy’s tenderloin,
Tom gets me numb.
French Lick puzzle,
Stint for a stone.
A custom home,
Now ours to own.
Together with Peter,
Elliott and Berry.
Tally found this adventure,
To be quite scary.
From Nampa thru Tampa,
The Solara led the way.
Memories of Eddy’s,
That flashback in play.
Who would have guessed,
Where this would all lead?
As we picked up our “keys,”
And the Warranty Deed.
Happy 20th Sweetie Pie,
A kiss on the threshold.
I’ll love you forever,
It will never grow old!
Copyright 2021 johnstonwrites.com
