Dispense as Written

What I did on my three-month weekend.
A poem on a Tuesday.

“Effective immediately,” I typed.
It, too, was a Tuesday morning.
“Untenable,” it said.

Delivered in the cover of darkness.
I was wide awake.

She prayed for clarity.
I’ve never been clearer.

They led to a sabbatical.
An intermission.
Between chapters.
A gap semester.

My three-month weekend.

There were lunches, wine dates, walks, freelance.
Connections, networking.
Projects.

Peace.

I savored Chardonnay with Jenni. 
That led to lunch with Laney.

Then coffee with Joe.
That led to Community Matters Café with Norm.

“A really great place…”
Seniko explained.
“…disguised as a restaurant.”
Both of us upon a rescue mission.

Zoom with Katie. 
Porch with Ann and Lisa.
Tennis with Steph.
Wordles with Wendell.
Powerlunch with Shana.
Cashiers with sillies.

Lunch with Laney.
Soda with Andrew.
Derby with Jaybird.

Lew Consulting.
Fertilize Your Faith.
Mission34.
Integrative Fitness.

Interviews.
Whiteboard strategy.
Confidence.

Networking.
Emailing.
Résumé-ing.
Linking.
Reading.
Sleeping.

Peace.

Cooking.
Blogging.
Organizing.
Wondering.
Hoping.
Baking.
Walking.
Running.
Cleaning.

CHEF’STORE with Annie.
Fig panini with Abney.
Air with Lizzie.
Pavlova with Dru.

Oil change.
Real ID.
Inspection.
Mammogram.
Dermatologist.
Gynecologist.
Retirement rollover.

Lists.
Attic, pantry, shed, closet.

Sofa with Nadege.
Notary with Patterson.
Firepit with Mary.
Rosé with grandma Molly.

Tee times with Wes, Renée, Lori, Sam, Autumn.
Transfusion with Carter.
Pilates with Nicole.
Walk with Amy.

Cut and color with Candace.

Macchiato with Lea.
Cabernet with Alicia.

Vicious Biscuit with Susan.
Pics of peasant bread with Michelle.

RunJenRun.

Knife skills with Chef Debbie.

Phil’s with Lucy.
Egg salad on rye with Karla.
Long calls with Meredith, Sara.

Patio with Katharine, Tara, Lisa.
Time with Lauran, Gwen.

Community Read with Tracy.
Coffee with Heather.
Superhero Stomp.

Book Discussion with Sally.
Gougères with gals.
Stairs with Susan.

Sip ‘n see with Ollie and his entourage.
A toast to Lorraine with Heather and Ting.

My dad once sent me this prescription in his quintessential, gifted scrawl. It is a priceless treasure. It took me a few years to fill it — and I may have added a couple of refills, Daddy — but it was…

…just what the doctor ordered.