(no subject)

[audrexy]

i spent independence day weekend near bellingham at nicky's grandparents' cabin by the sound. it was such an enjoyable time and her family reminded me so much of my family reunions in south dakota by blue dog lake. her grandpa jerome, the spunky youngest of ten children and a twin, would tell great stories, like the time he ate the tomato his sister was growing to perfection for the fair just to make her mad...or on their honeymoon when they had 9 flat tires driving to missouri. we ate crab, salmon, went on the boat, set off fireworks, kayaked, slogged across the bay during low tide, dug for spitting geoducks, ate grandma sally's turkey sans and aunt julie's buttermilk hot cakes. i met a ghostly crab, named it bob, then put him back. the tide was coming anyway. belting out "how great thou art" at the top of our lungs on the way home and throwing rocks (i threw a log) into the sound to relieve ourselves of our frustrations were a few highlights. the whole weekend was humbling and wonderful and easygoing and pleasant. we stopped by everett on the way home to see my aunt suzie and cousins. we had lunch and joked around about the pronunciation of muenster cheese and my roommates were more than thrilled to spill the beans about my having a boyfriend and how astonishing and strange it is that i am not single this summer. my aunt just winked at me and i was like ohgeez subject change. it's not that i enjoyed being alone, although i was not unhappy. it is more i approach people with a pretty guarded heart these days and if someone can break down the walls i am 100% okay with that. when you surround yourself with genuine people, the world starts to ease its grip and it is a start to feeling free. and the fireside, mm the fireside. that will never get old.

the night and i clung to a rocking chair
arms wrapped around my waist
did you see the lightning sky?
pink today hot tomorrow
then the night wrapped as well
boring a crimson orange whole
in the middle of the ground
when my hands dipped into the sea
wherever they touched water glowed
fiercely. and the waves lit up
in the tiniest places as far as
i could see.