Driving through this town

The town where I was raised

The town I knew as home

A light sprinkle of snow on the ground

Nothing here

Ever seems to change

Seemingly quiet

Sleepy

Unless you know

Unless you really

Really

Know

The Catholic school

Where I learned both to pray

And write my name

Still looks the same

On the north side

Across the tracks

The sound of the train

The feel of the Wild West

Nestled in the heart

Of Navajo land

It's like a scene

Out of some B movie

That caught your eye

While channel surfing

That night

A long time ago

Out for a bite and a drink

With two local gals

One who I partied with

As a wild teen

The other

My dearest friend

From an earlier time

A time of pigtails and swing sets

And catholic prayers with our lessons

A cold

Cold

Night

The birthday of a local icon

Music

Cocktails

Familiar faces

A virtual time warp

On my senses

Hugs and smiles

From those who are sweet

Sneers and frowns

From those who are snobs

Wide eyed

With wonderment

Of a life I left behind

An old boyfriend and his wife

Our high school prom queen

Chubby and wrinkled

My best friend's baby sis

All grown up and married

Perpetually somber

Outlandishly real

Innately immune

My home town

The place I was raised

The land of my birth

Always a part of me

Although my heart

Now lies elsewhere