Home on New Year’s Eve 20 1 —

It was a lark to go from park to 16 hours

On the road under cloud cover — and December dark —

To get home before the final day of the year.

From Knoxville, first 40 miles east,

Then endless north.

We went uphill through seven states.

Despite the roadwork, Jersey barriers and those narrow lanes,

Despite the break-neck turns in Connecticut,

We stayed the course, of course uphill.

So much so, the elevation in Willimantic should have been mountainous.

We thought, would we ever get to sleep,

Not in ragged layers at Ramadas and Budget Inns, but in our hillside bed?

Buoyed by tunes, java, and brief stops,

We arrived around 12:30am at year’s end

Then gently turned from 1am to twenty past seven

In down-comforter heaven!