The Ride

I step into line.
It is long, I cannot see the end.
But I have heard so many great things about this ride
that I decide it is worth the wait.

I hear distant screams,
Some sound excited, some sound sad
and some are terrified.

I move forward a few feet.
I begin to notice those around me.
Some are taller than me, some are shorter,
Some look a lot like me.

"Hello" I say.
A friendly face smiles back.
Soon we are engrossed in conversation.

We have kids the same age,
We share similar beliefs and values
And we laugh together.

The line moves slowly forward.

Soon I am surrounded by a crowd.
More friends than I could have imagined.
Trust, friendship, understanding, love
This is good.

I hardly notice the line anymore,
but deep down I know our destination is approaching.

Suddenly there it is- we have made it.
I approach the gate excited for my turn,
my friends right there with me.

"Sorry-they can't come with" the man says with a wave of his arm.
"You have to ride this one alone."

I turn towards all of those familiar faces,
how can I leave them?
How can I do this alone?

But I have waited all of this time,
the pull of the ride is so great, so strong,
so inevitable.

I wave goodbye,
no tears leave my eyes-
those will come later.

I take my seat
and the ride begins.

We are moving in two weeks.
It's time to ride the roller coaster.

{image from here}

I am linking this post up today with Shell's Pour Your Heat Out Wednesdays