The weather is perfectly spring, finally warm in yellow and pink,
Combined with Friday and it’s a traffic jam and fender bender
Festival with turtle slow lines of window open cars slowly inching.
Daffodils and cherry blossoms in bright sun apparently impair driving.

I turned from the office in plenty of time for my morning appointment
Onto the highway with one clear mile before hitting multiples of brake light
Red and a snaking line of impatience and heat and loud music and lip-syncing.
My creeping minutes were spent recalculating likely late arrival times.

At the 20-minute mark I made the call I won’t be there today please meet
Without me I’ll get the story later. “Thank you” with fire truck flashing lights
In sight. Up the hill slowly I inched past the crunched grey Prius, taking my
Rubber necking turn then speeding for an unplanned Smoothie King lunch.

The afternoon was summer hot with small breezes and puffy pollen clouds.
My last meeting was at 4:15 but I was early and settled in to relax and wait.
I waited. And waited. Those poor people traveling the interstate from Philly
With the beach bound in mass-exodus in this first spring beautiful weekend.

Triple travel time clocked but cheerful smiles disembarked and greeted me
Despite their time in slow moving lines of finger tapped steering wheels.
“Take your time” I said “enjoy your visit” I suggested and savored the reminder
Of the “empty boats” wisdom story by these blithe good-natured travelers.