Years ago, when Susie was young, And her work for greyhound had just begun, She developed a passion for travel, they say, One that has grown in a monstrous way. So just for the record, I’ll try to review, All the ‘good-byes’ that she put me through. Because of those nights that I’ve spent alone, But especially for Susie, I’ve written this poem. THE TRAVELER Wally Rose - 1985 Oh where, oh where has Susie Rose gone? As Union President, there’s work to be done. A contract to renew, or a grievance to file, Whatever the case, she’ll be gone for a while. She’ll hop on a Greyhound and ride it all day, To Jacksonville, Tampa or Atlanta, GA. Hoping to get fellow workers their due, Doing her thing for O.E.I.U. She’s been to conventions in K.C. and L.A., Montreal, Frisco and Philadelphia, PA., Escorted George Meany when he was to speak, Talked to Pete Fountain on old Bourbon Street. Oh where, oh where has Susie Rose gone? She’s taken Sheila and vacated our home. Off to Detroit with Jerri, Judy and Janie,--- I think they’re as daft as the Ayatollah Homeini. All the way there just to watch a parade, With no reservations, yet so unafraid, Then back on the bus for the long ride home, In fact, I hardly knew they’d been gone. She might get w whim to see Colorado, Or watch all the shows in Las Vegas, Nevada. She’s ready to go at the drop of a hat, It couldn’t be stated more clearly than that. I survived Greyhound ‘til they moved away, She gave up her job, no longer to stray. I should have known, I was kidding myself, She had no such plans to stay home on the shelf. Oh where, oh where has Susie Rose gone? She’s now taking cruises, far far from home. First a long weekend to see the Bahamas, Then it was seven days down to Saint Thomas. One cruise a year sometimes became two, And the list of her travels soon grew and grew. I try to be patient, for somehow I know, She’s soon to run out of places to go. She’s visited Caracas and seen Martinique, Curacao, Yucatan, Freeport and Crete, London and Paris, the Isle of Capri, Kingston, Jamaica and old Napoli. She’s traveled to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Rome, North to Alaska, Juneau and Nome. Victoria Falls and Vancouver, B.C.-----, There must be a Nomad in her family tree. She’s rode a camel and para-sailed too, Motored up Pikes Peak just for the view, Flown over to Bangkok, Bombay and Kowloon,----- I hope no one charters a flight to the moon. There’s many more places that I can recall, Like Mykonos, Greece and Niagara Falls. Hawaii, Haiti and Bern make the list, And plenty of others that I’ve surely missed. San Juan, Puerto Rico, Madrid and Hong Kong,----- Could it possibly be I’ve done something wrong? Would you believe it, the first week she’s back, She’s planning another before she’s unpacked. Oh where, oh where has Susie Rose gone? She’s now between cruises and finally back home. Most folks would assume that she’d rest for a while, But let me assure you, that’s just not her style. She’s soon doing ‘demos’ and surveys for Jane, On every imaginable thing you could name. Her interviews take her to Woodford and Clark, Jessamine, Madison, Bourbon and Scott. You’d think that her pace would require extra sleep, But she’ll watch Johnny Carson each night of the week, Then rise in the morning to greet a new day, By rushing around in her usual way. Her work day’s now over;--much to my delight, And then she informs me, “It’s my Bunco night.” Of course there’s Sorority and Homemakers too,----- If she’s got a spare moment, she’ll find something to do. Soon the tobacco will start rolling in, And it’s back to the warehouse with Lavina and Ben. She’ll work through the winter until early spring, When the traveling cycle starts over again. If love thrives on absence, then ours is the best, For thirty-nine years it has passed every test. She gave me a daughter who I love and adore,----- If I had nothing else, I’d not ask for more. But now I’ve got Sheila and grand-daughters too, And the best son-in-law that I ever knew, So I’ll count all my blessings and live for the day, When her traveling is over and she comes home to stay.