It occurred to me, when Tom and I met Lynne before and after Thanksgiving, once to pick up little Minute, and once to return her to Lynne, that it was the only trip I or we took in 2020–a year in which I had planned at least four trips, maybe five or six–the first time I’d intended to travel in years.
On the second Minute trip, I decided to add to my copper penny souvenir collection and actually found a 2020 penny in my purse to use. So that’s our big journey (twice!): Buc-ee’s in Madisonville, Texas. You jealous?
Marika sent me a couple of funny souvenirs recently, and I was reminded of a song I love by the late Dan Fogelberg. I’d name you my favorites by him, but most of them are my favorites, which is why I have this collection.
I think I bought it used before we got our turntable. I had almost all of his recordings on vinyl, and when the Harvey flood took them from me, at least I still had this box set to listen to.
Another little writing note: For several years, I’ve had the outline of a mystery novel in my head that I’m hoping to write in 2021. It remains to be seen if this can happen. Dan Fogelberg is the inspiration for one of the characters.
I wish he hadn’t succumbed to prostate cancer in 2007. I’d have always listened to anything he wrote. One of his songs (not the one below) is the one I call my theme song for how it best describes my own creative journey.
This one is “Souvenirs,” to go with this post.
Here is a poem
That my lady sent down
Some morning while
I was away.
Wrote on the back of
A leaf that she found
Somewhere around Monterey.
And here is the key
To a house far away
Where I used to live
As a child.
They tore down the building
When I moved away
And left the key unreconciled.
And down in the canyon
The smoke starts to rise.
It rides on the wind
Till it reaches your eyes.
When faced with the past
The strongest man cries…cries.
And here is a sunrise
To set on your sill.
The ghosts of the dawn
Moving near.
They pass through your sorrow
And leave you quite still…
Sitting among souvenirs.