Observing Lent in Palm Springs

Drug wars
down in Mexico
divert Spring Breakers
to Palm Springs'
near perfect
Lenten climate.
Highs in the low 80s
overnight lows
in the high 50s.
Vodka proofs
in the mid 90s.

Senior snowbirds,
refugees from
Midwest blizzards
and Canadian winters,
are also here in force.
They are old enough
to remember when
Spring Break was
Easter Vacation.
But now they go
to Indian casinos
where they are losing
their religion.

For those of us
desert rats,
who live here
year round,
Lent is a time
to reflect on
martyrdom and
how we might
personally
avoid it.

Spring breakers
are too drunk
to drive but that
does not stop them.
Decorative fences
do not stop them.
At 2 a.m. they
lose their way.
We see the tire
tracks in our
neighbor's lawn.

Meanwhile
Midwest farmers
appear to know
nothing of traffic
or traffic lights.
Right turns from
the left lane.
Left turns from
the right lane.
Do they have traffic
laws in Minnesota?
Maybe only guidelines.

My Lenten lesson
is from the book of
defensive driving.
BMWs filled with
sophomores on Vicodin,
Chevy Tahoes with
Montana plates driven
by senior citizens
doing Prozac with
a beer back;
I pull off the road
to meditate and pray:
"All things will pass."
These drivers will pass,
albeit going 80
in a school zone.

This is the season
for reflection on
personal salvation,
surrender and sacrifice.
Next year for Lent
I may give up
driving.

-- Rich Seeley