It blinks rapidly, again and again. “Fault”, it says. Whose? Mine? I swear I didn’t do it, and I don’t care what the sign says. They care, and they know.

Down--A late start on a filled day.

Down--VA ID’s no good at the Registry, so no learner’s permit test, after a 50-minute wait, thus blown morning, getting nowhere.

Up--free admission to the zoo; most of the animals are awake and alert except the lion who roared until I got there, and then he napped!), the day’s cool and cloudy but dry, and the crowd’s just right; all in all, fun.

Up--got the books I wanted at the Coop, plus one to puzzle over.

Down--inedible fish…

A long time to wait and sit, so what do I do?I bring a book to read, but I read too fast, and there's still time left when I'm done. No cell phone, no laptop, only a small notebook, a pen, and me. I have eyes to see people of both genders and all groups--white, black ( but no Asians), with European ancestors or African or Latino. Some, like myself, are born in this country, and know and understand its requirements of citizenship, to vote and to serve in a jury (without trying to wiggle out).…

Holidays, time of light and cheer. We visit with old friends and long-time acquaintances, and perfect strangers greet us as though they've always known us. We send cards to those we might otherwise never hear from, and hope and pray they answer. We now recognize the street person, the homeless needing a boost getting back on their feet; maybe we don't have that boost, but we can offer a hot drink and a bite of food. Charities get filled with offerings and contributions, in time to be counted…

I sit and watch. Families gather, children scattered, all hither and yon. I wait for my ride. I have a long trip ahead, a chance to say a final goodbye. I look up; the sky is dark and stormy, very appropriate. How does it know?