Outside the window the trees were swaying
Clouds had darkened and the rain was spraying.
Earlier Helene had swept through the south
Spreading disruption and chaos throughout.
A remnant was forecast for the distant Midwest
Long fingers of storm swirling north without rest.
For days unabated it made itself known
And now it was here, churning full-blown.
Still, it was Friday; the planned date upon us.
And, so with no spoken fuss
We aimed our car north to negotiate
The highway which leads to Ball State
We longed to see Atticus fresh on his own
The first grandchild to move away from his home.
We wanted to catch up with his new situation
How he was handling his new liberation.
The wind was mighty as we left our place.
It didn’t let up, it was in our face.
It pushed from the north without cease and
The drive, we knew, would not be one of peace.
We merged into traffic, a torrent of trucks
And trailers and cars and campers and such.
And a craze of drivers all feeling the need
To get where they were heading ASAP.
The storm threw a curtain of steady rainfall
Down on the driving swarm of us all.
Blurring vision and adding noise to the load
Of the pandemonium now on the road.
After two hours of struggle in that battle zone
We arrived in Muncie destination unknown.
Freed from traffic congestion
Eventually, we located the dorm in question.
We took a chance and parked our car
In a space close by, not very far.
Pulled into a lot that seemed quite legit
No sign saying we need a permit.
We met in front of his new place
Then took the lift to see his new space.
His fifth-floor digs were small, it’s true,
But we harkened back to how ours was, too.
How are you doing? Anything we can bring you?
Are you lacking in something? Anything we can do?
Any classes easy? Any classes tough?
Is the dorm room sufficient? Are you eating enough?
We walked to the Village for a small bite.
Not far away but strong wind made it a fight.
Like a mime I seemed to be walking in place.
Not getting too far at this pace.
Atticus pointed out sites on the way
Where classes and activities held sway.
Places he was learning to know
Where adulthood was beginning to grow.
The food was great as was the talk
But it was getting late, so we walked.
The weather was still insane,
And just when did the wind shift again?
We hugged and said our goodbyes.
Becky and I looked to the skies
knowing it would be a rough drive.
But with focus we would survive.
The trip home was even longer.
The elements grew even stronger.
Traffic around us horrendous;
Strong forces against us stupendous.
That semi reminds me of a ship
listing and threatening to tip.
Its spray blinding our tiny ark.
All of this done in the dark.
Two hours plus of the drive
But we get home safe and alive.
Water and wind everywhere.
Good to be here instead of out there.
Norman Knight, a retired Clark-Pleasant Middle School teacher, writes this weekly column for the Daily Journal. Send comments to [email protected].
