The Journey Inward

There was the the women’s dorm,
where we first met, on the 5th floor. 

There was the academic building,
where we took all our education classes together. 

There was the off campus townhouse,
where we moved with friends.  

There were the jobs we accepted,
two out of the five available in a district. 

There were the weddings,
mine in the Spring, hers in the Fall. 

There were our houses,
shown to each other before buying. 

There were the children we bore,
one a year for six years. 

There were the maternity clothes,
traded back and forth with each pregnancy. 

There were the play groups,
keeping us connected while home with kids. 

There were the jobs we returned to,
years later for a new district. 

There were the parenting conversations,
more complicated in the teen years. 

There were the family pets,
joining us joyfully and leaving us painfully. 

There were the phone calls,
frequent, long, and comprehensive. 

There was my divorce and her job disappointment,
eased by mutual support and encouragement. 

There was sickness and disease,
where we took care of each other. 

There was death and loss,
and we sobbed in one another's arms. 

There was joy, laughter, adventures,
memories, manicures, mania. 

There was this woman I met at 19,
and she’s still by my side today. 

So dear, so beloved,
so appreciated. 


Cover Photo: Ewing, NJ. 1989
Photo this page:  Kingwood, NJ. 5.2.25 by KR