When we were small,
my grandfather
would occasionally announce
“today seems like a good day
for a mystery trip!”
The breakfast table erupted,
a chaos of conversation as
questions flew like darts —
Will we drive?
Is it far?
Are animals involved?
What gear might we need?
Will we be back before
lunch?
dusk?
dinner?
My grandfather beamed,
exactly the reaction he relished.
Sometimes
we waded into a brackish cranberry bog,
or dug our toes in sand
searching for clams.
We might visit a pale barn owl
at a rescue center
or explore an old iron forge.
My grandparents believed
extraordinary
was all around,
if only we adjusted
our perspective.
** The framed poster accompanying this post includes a photograph my grandfather took in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. He and my grandmother were founding members of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation. They dedicated their time and energy to the preservation of the Pine Barrens — the largest pine preserve on the Atlantic coast encompassing more than 1.1 million acres.
A Reading Life 
I LOVE the poster and would PROUDLY hang it in my home as both a reminder of the diminishing natural resources and also the power of exploring nature. Your post is a clear memory and testament to the kind of person who adores kids and nature: my kind of guy!
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I love reading your poems about your family and your childhood. I’ve gotten to know so much about your fulfilling upbringing from the beautiful poetry you write about your memories! What a wonderful way to document such special moments. Thanks for sharing!
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What a beautiful memory to capture in verse! Your grandparents sound like amazing people (and there must be a million slices waiting to be written about those mystery trips).
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What great people you come from!!
I’m so happy to meet your grandparents in this slice.
Clearly, knowing you, their spirit of excitement and adventure and learning and placing energy in the things that need to be protected is now inside you so strongly. Also, I love this phrase: “questions flew like darts”
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Love the poem! What a grandfather and what wonderful things he included in his mystery trips!
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Oh man, I need to borrow this now with my own kids. Extraordinary is indeed all around, we just need to look for it. Thanks for this reminder.
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Two simple words I wish I had thought of when raising my kids and living near grand kids. They may work on my husband-hmmm. I love your poem and photo. What an honor!
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I’m truly inspired by your slice and your family’s legacy. Your word choice brings the mystery trips alive. Your last stanza is my favorite.
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Your poem describes such a beautiful, fun family tradition! I love the list of questions that might swirl around, as well as the words you chose to tell us of a few of your mystery trips. And, I love the ending as well: “My grandparents believed/extraordinary/was all around”–may we all be able to find that perspective!
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This is dope. Love the sensory detail about the experiences in the bog and the sand. It also makes me miss my grandparents.
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