The Kitchen Sink

Postcard No. 4 – A Storage Unit Somewhere In North America

“Traveling—it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.”― Ibn Battuta

From time to time, I’ll be sharing stories from my travels. They will be a collection of “postcards” from the road. Unlike my other work, these posts will not be essays. Rather, they will be un-edited on-the-go reflections made while staring out car windows, waiting in airport terminals, or enjoying a meal of new and exciting flavors. I hope you enjoy this slight detour in our journey together!

Nostalgia billowed from the container

as I lifted the lid.

The acrid smell of decomposing memories

invaded my nostrils

sending me through

a thousand memories at once.

I picked up a stack of papers

to see if anything inside was

still living.

Flipping through harmless magazines

and outdated medical bills,

I was confronted with the distinct handwriting

of my father.

The force of his memory

knocked me back several steps

and I snapped the lid shut.

The plumes of his extinguished life –

our life –

contained.

“Another time.” I tell myself.

“Another year.” I croon.

“We’ll try again. Next time.”

I look forward to sharing my usual recordings once I’m back home! Thanks for your understanding.
Kate Smithson

writer

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