when i was young i knew everything

feeling nostalgic for a spring break gone past
i remember the night before
the terrible napoleon the load of wet laundry
the aimless wanderers of empty corridors
knocking for brief respite in quiet chat
surprising connection, chance encounter
anticipation build up.

bikinis laid over chairs with heater on to burn dry
the lying down to rest for excited shut eye
the early morning's tinged slate grey skies
the easy bantering of the driver guys
the arrangement of seat pals and navigator whirls
the map slid off the roof onto the blacktop
we have to go back, girls.

from heavy jackets and down coats we shed
the drive highways of bleak leafless trees winding through to sunnier playas
from the north down past south of the border
multifaceted horizons of multicoloured hues
reality never told us we'd have it so good
there is nothing quite like the road trip
with its relentless, comforting music
we can't be held responsible, we were only freshmen
and i don't want to wait
even if the surf be ice-cold, the beach far from pristine
it is florida, we are so young, and all together
we will plunge into the waters
take the shock simultaneous
ever after
we will remember.

remember the night we celebrated in the pitch dark her birthday
remember the cordoned off beach film ad and jason mraz playing
remember the squeeze in days inn room
remember the rained-in gambling daytona 'chalet'
remember the go-karting and the batting cage
remember that ghiradelli chocolate sundae
remember that mafia charade
remember that volleyball game
that captain's ball game
that key largo dip
that orlando belz shopping trip.

we are different now, a little older, a lot wiser
our lives and loves changed
the ache lessened, the burdens greater
the pictures in our minds faded just a little more

but we are still together.
everytime i see your face
and yours and yours and yours and yours
i know the magic was real
and that we were there