The Journey Inward

So last week I wrote a poem,
(It rhymed and everything!),
About wearing my daughter's pants to work,
And feeling sappy and sentimental,
Melancholy with missing her,
Explaining how it made me feel close to her.

I wore my daughter's pants again this past Saturday,
But this time there was no bittersweet,
Nor cosmic connection,
But rather a desperate plea,
From a desperate mom,
Walking through a town,
In her pajamas,
At 7:47 in the morning.

Having dropped her with her crutches and scooter,
At the gate of her academy,
I returned to our hotel to climb back into bed for a bit,
Then head out for a walk,
Before coming back to fetch her after drill,
And meet my son-in-law for brunch.

But upon returning to the base,
I was told I could not come on,
Without my daughter's credentials,
And so there I sat at the gate,
In my boxers and sweatshirt,
Hair piled up on my head,
Not a stitch of make-up on,
(Though thankfully I'd brushed my teeth),
My breakfast back in the fridge,
And these poor young gate keepers feeling so bad.

"No worries!" I exclaimed,
Though I hadn't a clue what my plan was. 
I drove aimlessly,
Considering a walk at the local state park,
Or grabbing a cup of tea,
Or finding a local Navy kid,
To drive with me on to base.

Instead, my daughter texted,
And I told her what had transpired.
She said to come on over and we'd get tea,
And she’d bring jeans.  
I couldn't drive on her base,
So I parked a mile from school,
(In an area I vowed to visit under better circumstances)
And began the walk,
In my pajamas, 
Through town,
Head held high,
(Knowing 25 year old me would have been so self conscious,
But 55 year old me found this amusing,
And couldn’t give two figs,)
And entered her military campus.

She crutched her way down the steep hill,
Me watching through fingers woven together,
Over my eyes, unable to breathe,
Until she reached the bottom,
A pair of jeans around her shoulders,
Like a 70s era scarf!

Into the bathroom I went,
And slid on bell bottoms,
Shredded at the hem,
And hugging my hips more tightly,
With no chance of buttoning at the waist,
Her school hat on my head,
And walked out a very "hip" looking mom,
Once again wearing her daughter's pants,
And laughing with the certainty,
That a sense of humor is mandatory,
In this wonderful world.

Photo:  Selfie by LA, 9.28.24