cabbage and potholes

a happy 
memory

of presbyterian 
men and women 
on a mission trip 
in africa

twenty one days
and you get to 
know each other
in ways you 
did not know each other

we stayed at a hostel 
on the campus of a hospital

dorm style with 
meals prepared

each meal 
came with soup
meat or fish
side dish 
bread and drink

five nights in a row
the side dish was 
cooked cabbage

it was delicious
and most of us 
consumed the meal
and the cabbage 
with heartiness 
as we were hungry after
a day of work

on the sixth day
after five days of 
having cooked cabbage
as a side dish 
we all climbed in a van 
to travel across country

two things about traveling across country 
in africa
the roads are extremely bumpy 
and there are very few rest 
rooms 
along the way

we were on a lengthy drive
about four hours 

at least this is what i remember

it might have been shorter 
but
i was one of two 
who needed a rest 
room 
midway the trip
and my memory may well
serve to exaggerate the time
it took for travel

two of us in the back seat 
made our request for 
rest 
known
to no 
avail
but we held
in 
and on 

in other 
words we
patiently persevered

but matters worsened

the pot holes
jolted and jiggled

and all 
those days of 
cooked cabbage
made their debut

prim
proper
persevering 
presbyterians
driving over potholes

after five days 
of cooked cabbage

well it is 
the punch line of 
sophomoric 
magnitude

in one word
poot!

in multitude
from the petite
to the
larger!

then 
laughter
in abundance

which in turn 
made it near impossible 
for those of us 
in dire need of a rest 
stop

but
a memory 
that remains 
delightful 
and on this dreary damp winter day

makes me
laugh!

who would have 
known 
such a "thing" 
would help to unite
a group!

perhaps presbyteries 
of presbyterians 
petite and larger
across the country 
need to consider
taking a ride 
across some bumpy 
roads together...

the possibilities are 
endless
and may well 
serve to unify!