By Bill Hollands, published Sept. 24, 2020, by Hawaii Pacific Review
Close your eyes as the ridges tick by under your fingertip. Wherever you land you go, do-overs allowed, as many as you like. Madagascar, Nepal, Suriname, Chad – I always wanted Chad. I knew nothing about it. My son and I take a road trip each summer, just us, special time. In the hotel room I spread out my old road atlas, try to show him the big picture. See, first Bend, then Crater Lake, then Ashland. He rolls his eyes, so I let it go and read about Chad. Wikipedia says it’s a mess – poverty, corruption, violence. We’re advised not to go there, and if you’re gay forget it. But there must be beauty, of course, joy even, small moments maybe, and I still know next to nothing about it.
Bill Hollands 