Waiting On The Road To Somewhere
There’s a part of me that’s forever waiting in gas station parking lots.
Hi Friends!
Keith here checking in to say ‘hey’. I hope you’re enjoying your June, as we move towards summer in the northern hemisphere.
It’s been a minute since I’ve published here at Circles In Space. When I moved into a new role at my day job at the end of February I lost the rhythm of writing Five Bullets, something I’ve done nearly every Friday since 2022. Though it was tough to let this go for the time being, I allowed myself to be ‘ok’ with it and let my creative energy move elsewhere. But lately I’m missing the routine of publishing each week.
Instead of jumping back into the same pattern, I want to try something new. I want to publish a wider variety of writing. I want to finish work and put it out into the world.
Earlier this week I was sitting at my desk trying to figure out what to work on when a memory I hadn’t thought about in forever popped into my head. (Does this happen to you too?) I wrote this short prose piece about that memory. I hope you enjoy reading.
“Waiting On The Road To Somewhere”
There’s a part of me that’s forever waiting in gas station parking lots in a place I’ve never been before, trying to get directions, find a hotel, and deal with some critical issue. I still remember the feeling of sitting on the bus during a high school trip through the American West, just waiting. Waiting for what? I can’t recall. But I recall the bus, the parking lot, the setting sun, the desert heat, and wondering if I should join the others and pick up Arby’s or Denny’s or whatever was across the street, because it felt like we’d be stuck there forever. This scene has replayed itself on nearly every trip I’ve taken since, from Montana to Morocco. The waiting, and not knowing, that’s what sticks with me. But these are the moments that make up a trip, the trials and tribulations, and unexpected problems and the uncertainty of being in a strange place, left to figure things out for yourself. Or if you’re lucky enough to be travelling with someone, these moments become a bond you’ll both remember forever. The trip continues, you come out the other end stronger than before, and life goes on. But in the moment, the waiting feels dark and empty, with no end in sight and home seems very far away.
Until next time,
Keith
