Chelsea, Maine

"Are you serious dad?"
a town named after a girl?
Could we maybe get gas next time
in Emily, New Hampshire,
or Daddy, New York?
Chelsea, Maine?
How far are we
from Uncle Dave's?"

I wanted to take back roads;
see things,
share country life
with Emily.

It was normally a clean shot
up Interstate 95
from southern New Hampshire
to the rural routes
of mid Maine.

After seven straight
north to south trips
in the last 27 days,
I decided to try something different
before we headed
back to North Dakota.

Just before the State Capital,
we pull into the Chelsea Irving station.
"Maine Tourist Supplies, Knickknacks,
and Moose Dropping Castles."

"What is a moose dropping dad?"
"Grrr..."the most expensive,
"cheap gas" in 200 miles.
$49.47 for a tank of the best stuff,
as my saved receipt recorded.
We were back on Route 202,
and headed toward 108 North.

"Dad, what was the lady at the counter
who made my iced tea's name?"
"I didn't notice hun"
"Was her name Chelsea?"
"I don't know."
"You would think her name
would be Chelsea."
"I think it was Flo."
"Flo?"
"They are all "Flo" in my world hun."
"I hope it was Chelsea.
"Chelsea, from Chelsea, Maine."

It was a brief stop.
Due to my grumpiness,
another cold
impersonal exchange.

Some would remember,
but I forget,
how others live and die
beside a narrow highway.
We who travel,
love our families,
but choose to
strike from our memories
those who are left
beside the roads
we travel.