Carl and the Day Full of Love

It was Valentine’s Day.

I caught a short white bus right across from the building where I live.

I travelled to another town to meet a friend I love, one who is easy to be with, one I appreciate.

The bus driver’s name was Carl.

He told me he’s been driving this same route for 21 years.

People tell him he must be bored.

Carl alway tells them that he loves it. “I have the Adirondacks on my left and the Green Mountains on my right. What more could I want?”

Carl gave me a tour. An amazing, full of details only a local would know tour.

I didn’t love the charge machine in one of the shops that refused to connect. I did love the vest I ended up purchasing there.

I loved my sandwich and the lunch conversation I had with my friend.

I fell in love with a chocolate peanut butter cookie. My friend fell in love with the oatmeal raisin one. We compromised on one with chocolate chips, nuts, and coconut, and both ended up loving it. The coffee was unexpectedly good.

My friend fell in love with some old, vintage sweater patterns. They were free.

I fell in love with a vintage wooden pull toy with an evil face.

We both fell in love with a long, horizontal photo of women from days gone by, and with a resale shop that was closed but looked amazing through the windows.

On my ride home, the not-Carl bus driver kindly offered to drop me off at the post office across from my building.

As we came down the hill into town I discovered my heart was still in love with my new hometown.

Cinse Bonino
2023