Let’s Ride

Most of us will grin, congratulate and maybe even back-slap when an old married couple shares that they were childhood sweethearts. In the cockles, we romantic sorts carry the concept that this is the way things ought to be.  I suspect it warms our hearts and encourages our romantic bent that, sometimes, the sweet things in life workout as they should. Such reassurances restore our faith that, even if not for us personally, the universe can still function in full alignment with our fantasy-vision of pure romance. This is my version of how two kids, early on, vowed their love and stuck to it. It just might have happened like this one time.

Let’s Ride

Well look at us Bonnie Darlin’
Celebratin' our well-lived life
Forty-seven years together
Thrivin' strong as husband and wife

Lookin’ back we've sure left a trail
Of which we can be all-fired proud
We built this ranch raisin three kids
Through loss and wins as God allowed

You remember how we started
On that sweet sunny afternoon?
Who'd'a thought we were ridin' off
To our own distant honeymoon?

I recall the words exactly
That I spoke that auspicious day
I believe it was God's own plan
For me to tell you what I'd say

“I know I'm just a boy of twelve
And you're only a girl of ten
But I got some feelin's stirrin'
That take me to thinkin' 'bout when”

"When we are all growed and ready
To launch out on our grown-up life
There’s gonna be one and only
That I’m gonna want for my wife"

“Now we're too young to be hitchin'
But I thought I'd stake my own claim
Cuz I know that when I'm eighteen
I'm gonna feel the exact same”

“Life choices we ain't ready for
But there are things we can decide
There are ponies in that corral
What do you say Bonnie? Let's ride!”

And so go for a ride we did
You insisted ridin' behind
So we rode ol' "Two-Bits" double
Beginnin' this, our life aligned

We weren't gone very long a'tall
But it clearly was long enough
To seal a bond to last for life
Through good times and some purdy rough

'After we hitched we bought this land
Through flood and drought with faith we framed
Settin' 'bout to make us a home
Workin' it hard, this land we tamed

Now the kids have all moved along
Startin' families of their own
Me, I've learned some things worth knowin'
We both have stretched a lot and grown

What a life we’ve had together
Filled with laughter, love and carin’
I’m so grateful God urged on me
'The Way' is all 'bout ride-sharin’

I treasure our life together
In your love I'm blessed to abide
And all because God prompted me
To step up bold and say, "Let's Ride!"

by Rik "Yonder" Goodell

© 2024 All rights reserved

Thank you Gregory Mayse for once again providing your excellent artwork to accompany my poetry. You've provided a number of fine art pieces to either inspire or flesh-out my rhyming stories.

To see more of Mr. Mayse's work, visit his website: https://www.gregorymayse.com/