A Prairie Home Companion from American Public Media: First Person

My Florida Vacation
by Jon Garrison
July 5, 2007

I went to Florida on my vacation
He ran with the bulls down in Spain
I told him about the Jacksonville sun
He told me of Rome in the rain

I spoke to a small group at church
He was speaking to hundreds in his teens
The dinner I described at Red Lobster
Brought on stories of Paris cuisine

My two bedroom house on the hill
Brought to mind a mansion he once had
He followed a mention of my sniffles
With his story of pneumonia gone bad

That close call I had on the highway
Was like the time when he nearly died
His spirit was hovering near the ceiling
As he started to walk toward the light

I've been trying to give up cigarettes
He told me how he gave up cocaine
He hoped that headaches I'd been having
Wouldn't be like that tumor on his brain

I started an exercise program
He's training for his third marathon
That theatre play I thought might be good
"Don't bother".(he'd already gone)

I'm going to Florida on my vacation
He's headed for the Amazon rain
I'll tell him "I was captured by Martians"
He'll reply, "well--they're back again?"

About the author:
I am 51 years old, married and a father of three almost adults. I am a clinical psychologist, and have a practice in Tullahoma, Tennessee. My wife is also a clinical psychologist, so there is no shortage of long discussions as to the meaning and mode of words.