OUR JOURNEY TO OUR GRANDDAUGHTER'S WEDDING

Sharon and I had the joy of attending my granddaughter’s wedding in New Mexico. It was the first time in several years that my doctors permitted me to travel. The journey and the wedding were double blessings.

Our portable GPS navigation device helped us find our way there, including finding where to pick up my son David at the Albuquerque airport. The tom-tom navigator proved to be very patient when I took wrong turns or failed to follow her directions, she redirected me back on to the correct route. For that reason I’ve nicknamed her “Gracie”.

The night preceding the wedding we were invited to a barbecue at her aunt and uncle’s ranch in a remote area outside of Cerrillos, New Mexico. Even with Gracie’s soft-spoken directions I missed the little country road leading toward the ranch. After driving a couple miles beyond that, I saw two motorcyclists parked in a little parking area alongside the highway. I stopped to ask directions. The fellow responded in a heavy English accent. His two friends on another motorcycle also spoke with heavy accents. He took out his map and said it appeared that we had come too far.

After getting directions from them I asked where they were from. One responded that he was from England the other two said they were Australians. I thanked them for coming all the way to New Mexico just to give me directions. They laughed as I slowly turned back in the direction from which I had come. The road where we were to turn looked like the entry to a small trailer court. We traveled down a narrow paved highway and then turned onto a washboard dirt road. The suspension on my Prius got a good workout. The barbecue and fellowship that night was fun.

The following day we journeyed back from Santa Fe to Cerrillos and drove up another washboard road to a beautiful resort. The wedding took place on an open patio with a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains. White clouds danced against a blue sky throughout the wedding ceremony.

During the service the minister was handed a velvet pouch containing the two rings. She announced that preceding the ring exchange she wanted each person attending the service to hold the pouch with the rings, in their hands, and say a prayer or make a wish for Mykie and Quinn. Sharon and I enfolded it between our hands and asked that their wedding and marriage might be as blessed as ours.

The reception and food following the ceremony was an equally joyous occasion. I took over 300 photos on my little digital camera, and plan to share them with family members. Of course, I am certain ones taken by the professional photographer will be much better than mine.

A humorous experience happened while we were driving back to our hotel room. Gracie suddenly told me at the next stop sign to take a left and follow the road to Interstate 25. I knew we had gotten on to the highway up further on the highway so disregarded her directions. We traveled about ½ mile down the road when I saw numerous flashing red lights and a line of cars Gracie apparently had tried to guide me around a DUI checkpoint. We waited several minutes before arriving at the checkpoint. I have attached a poem about what happened. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did the experience.

While it was a very long journey for us it was time of abundant blessing.

“Gracie”

I was driving down the highway,
At speeds the law allowed.
My GPS I call, “Gracie”
Said, “Left avoid the crowd.”

I thought she was a-naggin’ me,
So did not heed her cry.
I travelled down the pike a mile,
A check point caught my eye.

I sat there waiting for awhile,
Until it was my turn.
Patrolman flashed light in my eyes,
His words I could not spurn.

I rolled up to the spot he said,
To see a charming lass,
A breathalyzer in her hand,
A test I had to pass.

"It’s strictly voluntary sir,"
“Would you please volunteer.”
“The pleasure would be mine,” I said.
“My breath will be quite clear.”

“My asthma may affect the puff,”
“But I will do my best.”
Gave out a breath long as I could,
And, Lo I passed the test.

“You did real well, you can move on,”
She said with pleasant tone.
I sought a voluntary hug,
One she could call her own.

She smiled at me and I reached out,
Could she my hug test pass?
And there while traffic was backed up,
I hugged the charming lass.

I smiled at her and softly said,
“You have a real good day.”
With laughter all along the line,
I slowly drove away.

We travelled on along the road,
Dear Gracie she was still,
She didn’t say a single thing,
Until we topped the hill.

“Turn right,” she said, “ I twenty-five,”
“Stay in the far right lane,”
I followed her directions home,
Her guidance was quite plain.

If I had listened earlier,
Not given her a shrug,
Think of the fun I would have missed.
To give a cop a HUG!

This poem was written following an experience at a checkpoint in New Mexico when we were returning from my Granddaughter’s wedding. The test and hug were real. Gracie did forgive me and guided Sharon and me all the way back to our apartment in Arizona.

Don E. Cunningham, Author/Poet ©8/23/2008 930