Long Road Ahead

I had been popping into my friend's vintage shop a lot that week and after an awkward exit after the last visit, I decided I would leave town and go on a road trip. I can't tell you how far I went, but I can tell you I went far. I was in a small mountain town, looking out of a window. There were tall redwoods and snowcapped mountains. Right outside my window was a small patch of forest and I was high enough up that I could see the treetops. A huge Red-tailed Hawk swooped up with a small dead bird in its beak. It landed on its nest and fed it whole to its young. Then it disappeared into the forest. A few minutes later it emerged with a small dead mammal in it's clutches and again fed it whole to the young. I felt like I was witnessing something magical, something immensely rare, and I was soaking it in. Across the patch of forest was a large multi-storied building that was my destination in this mountain town. It looked like a medical facility or perhaps a research facility. I strutted through the automatic double-doors feeling like I was someone important who had a specific reason to be there--almost like my expertise made me someone valuable that was to work on a project there. Or something. As if I had been there before and knew my way around, I marched into the Bird department and checked-in at the front desk. I was going to meet with someone mildly important. I felt very excited to be there and a sense of future-career came over me.

Then I was on the road again, this time Nelson Mandela had decided to join us--or rather, we had to pick him up and drop him off somewhere along the way. So we were his stewards for this portion of the trip. And I think I recall us driving in a convertible too. We were going to travel through Africa to visit all of the places he had once been persecuted or praised. I can recall being in Kenya and him receiving mixed reviews upon arrival. But it was a joyous occasion and I know he felt closure in whatever he needed closure in. We ate a hearty meal outside on wooden benches with women in colorful robes. There was an archway set-like structure behind us where people were coming from. It was painted in yellows and reds and other bright colors. We were to continue on our trip the next day, but I am not sure where we were headed or if Nelson was coming with us. I don't even know who "us" was.