I’ve been here before

another hotel and I realize

I’ve been here before

two, three times maybe four

to Dallas, not this hotel

but only for conferences

airports, shuttles, hotels,

meetings, USA Today, networking,

meals and goodbye

there were two times

I got away

to see the grassy knoll,

and those making a living

keeping conspiracies alive

same with

Orlando, Vail and Chicago

and others I can’t recall

there was the time  I visited the Nelson’s

and went to Wrigley with Mark to see the

Cubs play the Tigers

we sat down the third base line

on Father’s Day, without  any of our kids

oh, and also Atlanta,

except for the trip with Kyle

to the 2000 All Star game

the year he graduated and I

had won the radio contest

I missed a week of advent

I missed a week of advent

as if it disappeared

or maybe never happened

I was in another place

with decorations and

carols all around

and greetings of cheer

from nice, new people

friendly, but unfamiliar

I sat in hotels, meetings and planes

that little convinced my heart or

soul of the soon coming day

I have returned home  

bearing an unseen weight

of responsibilities and

expectations with slight chance

I’ll catch up

or be caught up