Ride

I am 16 up
Early to peddle
Across San Antonio
From my home northwest
Of Thomas Jefferson HS to
The Library at Fort Sam Houston
To read military history books and
Maps a long ride but pleasant
Despite the traffic on old
Hildebrand Road in my
Bike bag are an apple
Sandwich and some
Fritos for my lunch
I am unaware as
I peddle I will
Pass the
Garage
Apartment
Where 20 years
Later I will see my old
Friend John Ted for the
Last time before he commits
Suicide destroyed by his time
In Viet Nam further on I will
Pass just south of the
House in Alamo
Heights where
Three years
Later I will
Move in
With
My future
Wife and her
Two young sons
Whom I will adopt
Further yet I come too
Close to the Fort Sam military
Cemetery where in 40 years I will
Bury my eldest son a year after
Burying his youngest daughter
In the same grave still both
Lie together under one
Gravestone not too
Far from the base
Library a trip I
Took many
Times
Unaware
Of what the
Future would hold
Like my mother dying
Of pancreatic cancer at
Home so I drive the route
When I am in town but now
Aware of all the lives and graves
Along the route north or south
Though mostly I remember
All the meals restaurants
Family and friends who
Have shared a bite or
Two with me in San
Antonio over the
Last two thirds
Of a century
Some now
Absent
But
Still fresh
To me not
Forgotten but
Missed memories
I share with those close
Who have had their
Own ride across
Hildebrand
Just like
Me
And you.
Sometimes
I catch a glimpse
Of my mother coming
Out of the old Laurel or
Broadway cinema with me.