The Two Drivers In My Life
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Image of Grandparents Country Home from my family collection
The Two Drivers In My Life
In my younger years ...
I got to know the souls of my parent's worlds,
were as distant as our known solar system.
Mom was advancing in the ways of God.
Dad owned a thriving enterprise and,
once held the Golden Gloves title,
... and he despised the church,
may I mind you -- not God.
This was during summer,
after the row at home,
we stayed with our
maternal grand's
in the country.
Schooltime was nearing soon,
but we did not know if we
will attend the country
school or move back
home in town and
go to the town
school ...
hmm?
My birthday happens around that time of year
and my parents had both come out to the
country for this occasion. My granddad
was a deacon for their country church.
We had held my birthday party at the
church hall. It's a Hawaiian church,
hymnals, bibles, Sunday school
books, and sermons were all
done in Hawaiiana. As the
party was winding down,
we had put my gifts in
mom's family Chevy.
She drove us on to
our grandparents
home, just a bit
of hippety-hop.
We'd thought
it's country
school for
all of us
again,
'twas
OK.
Then all of a sudden,
dad had driven up
against our back
and all my gifts
packed up my
mom's rear
window, I
was not
able to
see.
I remember hugging and thanking him by the Chevy,
for the gifts and the wondrous day spent, knowing
he has his work tomorrow and mom will go teach
kids music privately, then entertain tourist at
the hotel nightly, nevertheless, dad rarely
comes to the country home. He steps
out of his new Camaro and told us
who wants to ride home with me,
and since I am the youngest of
the brood, instinctively, I ran
to sit in the back, until dad
said, "Since it's your day,
you sit in the front with
dad." Then mom had
interjected, saying,
"Don't forget your
things you may
want to bring
home." Well,
as for me, I
was good
to go on
home
now.
I'm glad about all the gifts I'd received that day, but for
the life of me -- as I write this -- I cannot recall any of
those said gifts that piled high in the back of a Chevy,
or dad's Camaro other than its striking stripe on the
front of the hood. Nothing had resonated inside of
me, except for two drivers inside those cars, and
even so, separate entities that they were, too
steep in their own way's, however, for now,
they had set aside their differences for me
and that both of their hearts were as one
again. Later, mom had established her
churches, and as dad was nearing his
call home, he had embraced mom's
church. They were together again
for their last years. O'er time, I
had become a bit progressive,
having a broader perspective
of the old and new, a need
for family values, love for
each other, and keeping
in touch always. Never
forget I, of those who
had loved me during
those times, either
driving separately,
or riding together
..., I will always
remember the
both of them
sharing the
manual for
drivers ...
~~The Word.
Those moments, good and bad, shared an unwavering timeline, making its bond unbreakable. They were both necessary tools for growing up as both entities had emboldened me to be wiser, stronger, and to make better choices. As I journeyed along, coming to dead ends and freeways, side and main streets, U-turns and yields, eventually, I found my way home. I know that my parents and loved ones are all in my thoughts and in my heart as one. I strive to drive my life on the path of righteousness.
KJV John 14: 6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
(Love) Aloha dad & mom, ke Akua pu (God bless you) ...
2021 June 14
*7th Place*
A Tender Moment From Childhood
~~Malabika Ray Choudhury: Judged 2021 July 01
Copyright © Hilo Poet | Year Posted 2021
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