dropzone overshot

20 of 30


when she turned 70
mom announced she wanted to skydive for her 80th
to get the full impact of that declaration
you need to know my mother
bravest she'd ever been was defying her parents
marrying my father
(come to think of it...that's no small feat...)

2 strokes & a pandemic later
she's no longer as steady on her feet
she tires more easily
only 3 birthdays yet to go until that slated date
...it isn't looking likely

I wish I had the courage to go
...in her place
make the jump in her honor
but I'm scared to death of heights
I panic even boarding a plane
guess that makes me a coward

but the ladies in our family
are taking her on a road trip this fall
back to our old stomping grounds
where I was born
where daddy died
& where he's buried

celebrating my parents' legacy
teaching us to disconnect from stress
& plug in to life
just inhaling the moment
like the campfire smoke before us now
winding leisurely through the trees
I imbued the love of nature in my girl
just as they instilled it in me

mom says she misses camping
{what she really means is she misses daddy}
but it's too hard for her now to navigate
relies on a walker to get around these days
& still coming to terms with that change in independence
so we'll set up camp in a cozy motel
get smoked trout & fancy cheese
make root beer floats in our rooms
like we did when we were little
indulging in a special treat
all gathered around the family table

3 generations together
recreating a moment for my mother
creating one for my daughter
...of the good old days
before we go spread some love
...on daddy's grave

maybe not as exciting as the feeling of flying
but we'll create some new memories
have some laughs & shed a few tears
remembering the love of yester-year
before we run out of time