Distractions.
I left work and walked to the Whole Foods Market, where I bought a bottle of organic lemonade and a small cup of cioppino (better for me than clam chowder, due to lack of cream, yet twice as tasty) to hold me over until dinner; convenience and recent trips have caused me to go back to my SlimFast during the work day provisions. I sat in the warm sun and ate and read 'Rubyfruit Jungle'.
I threw my empty containers away and walked to the bus stop, where I sat down to finish my book and wait for the 960B to arrive. A woman that I know casually sat down at the other end of the bench and asked me questions about the shirt I was wearing -- one from Great Big Sea's 'Turn' tour. I told her about the band and directed her to the website.
I got onto the bus, showing my free ride card, got a transfer and sat down. To clear my head, I pulled out the new Dork Tower collection, 'Heart of Dorkness', and read all the way to Walnut Creek BART, where I transferred buses. There was a young woman on my second bus -- maybe a few years younger than I am, maybe the same age -- who had hair that impossible shade of white-blonde that no one's supposed to keep when they reach adulthood. I tried not to stare.
I finished the comic collection and switched over to Connie Willis's 'Fire Watch', reading it the rest of the way to the stop in front of the Sally-Ann. Outside, the sun was warm and the air was cool, and I walked along the edge of the bike trail watching the cat-tails sway in the wind and dreaming of other summers spent by that same creek. I'm so close to my childhood here, and yet so damn far away.
My house was locked and cool when I got here; my key fit the lock, and I let myself inside.
Now I'm sitting at my computer, whispering sweet nothings about my afternoon to electrons and air, while visions of fairy tales dance in my head. Jane is telling stories again: some are good stories and some are cruel stories, but they're all her stories, and if I have a lover, it's her, because what is hers is mine.
I just got distracted from her for a little while.
Excuse me for a little bit. It's time for Jane and I to go. She's excited today, and there's something that I think she wants me to see...
I threw my empty containers away and walked to the bus stop, where I sat down to finish my book and wait for the 960B to arrive. A woman that I know casually sat down at the other end of the bench and asked me questions about the shirt I was wearing -- one from Great Big Sea's 'Turn' tour. I told her about the band and directed her to the website.
I got onto the bus, showing my free ride card, got a transfer and sat down. To clear my head, I pulled out the new Dork Tower collection, 'Heart of Dorkness', and read all the way to Walnut Creek BART, where I transferred buses. There was a young woman on my second bus -- maybe a few years younger than I am, maybe the same age -- who had hair that impossible shade of white-blonde that no one's supposed to keep when they reach adulthood. I tried not to stare.
I finished the comic collection and switched over to Connie Willis's 'Fire Watch', reading it the rest of the way to the stop in front of the Sally-Ann. Outside, the sun was warm and the air was cool, and I walked along the edge of the bike trail watching the cat-tails sway in the wind and dreaming of other summers spent by that same creek. I'm so close to my childhood here, and yet so damn far away.
My house was locked and cool when I got here; my key fit the lock, and I let myself inside.
Now I'm sitting at my computer, whispering sweet nothings about my afternoon to electrons and air, while visions of fairy tales dance in my head. Jane is telling stories again: some are good stories and some are cruel stories, but they're all her stories, and if I have a lover, it's her, because what is hers is mine.
I just got distracted from her for a little while.
Excuse me for a little bit. It's time for Jane and I to go. She's excited today, and there's something that I think she wants me to see...