coupe de ville

his ghost rode along, in the passenger seat
an unusual position, he was used to driving
unable to feel the cool, blue leather upholstery
he allowed the memories to overwhelm him
warm as the wind dancing across the mohave
in the early eighties, lucky in New Year's pool
winning enough to buy his dream car
a white cadillac coupe de ville interior draped in red leather
his friends called it his pimp mobile
for him though it was a dream come true
unfortunately like most dreams all it took was a bit of reality
and poof it was gone
coming home from work Saturday night late
he wrapped it around an old pine tree
just blocks from his suburban home
his pride and joy was converted into a steaming bucket of bolts
he was lucky to walk away with a whole in his lip
with an insurance settlement and a bit of serendipity
he found himself at a government auction
bidding on a 1977 two tone blue coupe de ville
with the winning bid he purchased the last car
he would ever own
a brief moment of passing time
and cancer was his passenger
in his lungs, his back and his liver
despite the pain, despite the fear
he found solace behind the wheel of his cadillac
windows down sunroof open
he drove without direction
allowing the wind to carry the pain and fear away
leaving him alive in the moment
remembering the feel of eight cylinders on the open highway
chewing up asphalt leaving the onslaught of mini cars
eating the dust created by his detroit dinosaur
when driving was no longer possible
he placed his baby in the garage
unwilling to ride along not ready to surrender control

sixteen years after his passing
he found himself in the passenger seat
chasing memories across a desert
green from the latest record rains
the sun roof was open
the windows down
don henley was singing about the hotel california
he looked to his left content in the knowledge
that after a brief absence his dream car had returned to the family
his step son was sailing down route 40
for a brief moment it was as if a window had appeared
the boy, now a man, glanced at the passenger seat
sensing in some way that he was no longer alone
he smiled as if to say its okay dad
the old cadillac is in good hands