my car died the other day

i was heading down the windy roads of west vancouver
towards my favorite beach spot
i went to steer the car around a lovely curve
but the car kept going straight
and a bonus!
the brakes weren't really working either.

with a little force
i was able to crank the wheel to the bend in the road
and started coasting down the hill.

i was like: hmmmmm this is interesting
like in cartoons
no brakes.

with luck
i managed to pull the car into someones driveway
blocking it
and stopped

oddly enough
the owner of the house pulled up a minute later
wanting to pull in

i apologized and tried to explain
she did not offer to help me
but looking put out
parked on the side of the road
and walked past me

i took the dog out of the car
and crossed the street into a sunbeam
and waited for the tow truck

an older woman was there gathering her garbage cans
i told her about my car

she stopped and looked into my eyes
she invited me into her home
she gave my dog a ball
showed me her garden
and shared some of her story with me

her husband had recently passed
after a long marriage

she said she was getting to know herself as an individual
for the first time

she was in her 80's, so beautiful.

Thank you Anne.