The Departure.
The Frenzy.
The Packing.
The Awkwardness.
The Race to the Airport.
The Small Talk.
The Drop-off.
*
The Drive Back Home.
Stewing in Silence.
Lamott’s Drowning in Uncried Tears.
Smoke from Melancholia Filling the Cockpit.
An Amputee Rubbing his Stub – Where’s my Limb?
*
The Gap.
Tongue’s first day with his Missing Tooth.
Zeke Turning, Turning, Turning. Can’t find his spot. Lands Heavily, and Sighs.
First Thanksgiving Dinner with the Circle Broken. His Seat Sits Empty.
*
The Return.
“Who’s Picking Up Eric at JFK Airport?”
Everyone!
Notes: Image: Leniwi-ojcowie. Related Posts: Driving Series

Reblogged this on sara2333.
Thank you and thank you for sharing Sara.
This is amazing
Fantastic – I felt it all..And welcome home Eric!!
Thank you Mimi. Great to have him home.
‘where is my limb?’ says is all. wonderful, dk.
Thank you Beth.
Lovely, DK–the agony and the ecstasy, if you will, beautifully limned in a few brief paragraphs…
Thank you Lori. And love “limned.” Had to look it up. Appreciate you continuing to stretch me…
limn |lim| verb [ with obj. ] literary
depict or describe in painting or words.
• suffuse or highlight (something) with a bright color or light: a crescent moon limned each shred with white gold.
It’s a favorite word of mine, I think it’s so concise, yet so elegant. My husband, conversely, isn’t often so keen on being “stretched,” and often bemoans the fact that “I just don’t speak English…” 😉
Laughing. I’m not stepping in the middle of THAT.
Ahhh, you are clever AND wise, grasshopper….
Read it three times, the journey of goodbye back to hello and the ache of all that is between those two points. Savor.
Ps..this line….Tongue’s first day with his Missing Tooth…it’s all there. Wow.
Thank you Bonnie.
love this…so poetic…the love and passion painted all over it.
Thank you Vicki. I appreciate the kind words
You beautifully describe the circle of life. I think what’s more important is less the absence and more how we treat each other when we’re all together. Glad your family is all together for the holidays!
Thank you Carolann. You hit an important point (if we managed the time together with the same softness and gentleness as the absence, it would be a better place)