It is good to have an end to journey toward;
but it is the journey that matters, in the end.

—Ursula K. Le Guin, “The Left Hand of Darkness,” 1969

•••

And a good friend to do it with helps, too.
Someone who can carry you when you’re tired.

Someone who is up for the adventure of not
knowing what’s next.

Someone who make you laugh and who laughs
at your jokes—especially on the roughest roads.

And, if you are lucky, you may have more than
one someone to walk with, different ones

whom you meet along the journey. Not all
will stick around till the end. That’s OK.

They’re not all meant to. But hey, you’re
here now, traveling this bit with me.

Thanks for that, my wandering spirit friend.
Your presence is one of life’s great presents.

•••

For Rose Varesio on her birthday… glad to be one of your wandering spirit friends! (And to my other wandering spirit friends… thank you, too!)