Turning Point

The Holidays - there is no denying this insanely busy time of year. Most of you reading this, well, you are well aware that I am not a fan of the Holidays.
But lately time has been adjusting my wisdom and I have begun considering things like: my parents: how long I have left with them; the same for my beautiful, 88-year old Grandmother. I think about the role I want and need to play in my three young cousins’ lives. I am single. I have no children and I have no pets (that live with me).
I’m sure I won’t be alone until the end of my days. But what if . . .

This Thanksgiving I made the usual drive along I-64 East to what I still refer to as "home", even though I haven’t lived there since I was eight. I’m not sure why this is, but every time I make that turn onto Boyscout Drive, a curvy, barely two-lane road, bordered by beautiful, huge trees and creek that runs along its side, I feel this sense of peace and calm come over me. And when my tires rattle and hum across the brick road on which my Granny's house sits, my heart skips a beat.

We did the usual - talking, meandering about the house, watching football, sneaking homemade candy and squeezing my grandmother on every pass by. I lay in the floor and played Mario Cart with two of my cousins while watching the third nap on the couch. We were summons to dinner, said grace and commenced to the feasting. 88 years old and the woman STILL puts out a full spread dinner! Amazing!
Promptly after, we all took our positions for the post-feast nap. Everybody has a spot!
By 5:30 it was time to begin the drive back to Lexington. I had packed an overnight in case I decided to stay but had not told anyone in case I really just wanted to come home.
I said my good-byes, hugged my cousins, my Granny and tooted my horn as I pulled out of the driveway.
By the time I reached the first crossroad my eyes had filled.
I continued on.
Preparing to turn onto Boyscout Dr., I took a long pause at the stop sign.
I continued on.
Around the bend of a curve I pulled off on a side street to pull myself together.
I continued on.
The last bend and I’d be to the Highway. I pulled over again.
“This is ridiculous. You are going to go home to sit there by yourself. You have nothing to do tonight and you have nowhere to be tomorrow until 6pm.”
With that, I turned the car around.Tears no long streamed but now poured freely from my eyes, and I went home.

I sat for over 2 hours drinking coffee, talking and laughing with my Grandmother. I snuggled my head along side my 12 year old cousin’s on my 21 year old cousin’s lap as she played with our hair. We watched Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. I taught them how to french braid (I think. . .) and I watched my 18 year old cousin spiff himself up before heading to his girlfriend’s house for a second dinner. I kissed them ALL goodnight.
The next morning I spent more time drinking coffee and talking to my grandmother and I spent more time with the girls. When I finally left around Noon that day, I didn’t shed a tear.

That night, my mother commented on how happy my Granny was that I had turned around and decided to stay.

I have memories now.
Ones I wouldn’t have had I kept driving; ones that will last me a lifetime.
Time passes so fast.
Time can be lost. It is the truest of truths.
But it can also be captured.
All I had to do was turn the car around.