A snippet of my day Sunday
We arrive at Seekers books a little after 4pm. Mike is meeting us here at five, assuming he received Melissa’s message. I find a few books, but nothing that exciting. I’m perusing the literature section when Mike arrives. He is wearing jeans, a white shirt and a maroon sweat shirt; very different from his “going out clothes” he wore when we met last night. Melissa is by the door so I know he is here by her greetings. It is three minutes after five. He must have felt work early to get here. I walk up to him and shake his hand.
The store owner knows him and pulls out a paper bag. “I have something you may want to see.” he says to Mike. He hands three Sure Fire Press/Holmes Publishing chap books to Mike. Mike asks how much.
“I will sell them to you for $10 each. If you don’t buy them I’ll have to look up how much they are really worth on the internet”
Mike pulls out his wallet to see how much he has. “I’ll take two of them.”
I hand the store owner my books and charge them on my debit card. We head out. The sky is overcast, yesterday was a much nicer day. However the weather was still cool and good for walking around.
Mike says to Melissa, “Katherine is waiting for us.”
Melissa asks where.
“Just down the street at a sushi place. I figure we can have dinner there.”
Melissa pauses and then says “But we had sushi last night, why don’t we go somewhere else.”
“OK, we’ll see what Katherine suggests.”
The restaurant we are going to is at the end of the block. We enter the patio area that is covered by, a large tent. After passing a horde of teenage girls Mike goes to a white plastic picnic table where a woman and young boy are sitting. He sits next to the boy. Katherine sees Melissa, smiles and says hello. Melissa sits in front of her leaving a chair between Mike and herself. I introduce myself to Katherine and the boy; he says his name is Sam.
It is apparent that Mike, Sam and Katherine are all very good friends. They immediately start chatting. Then Katherine and Melissa start talking about the books we purchased. I take them out the bags and pass them around. Mike and Sam start talking about the sprite in front of Sam.
“Can I have your lemon wedge?” Mike asks.
“Sure.” Sam replies.
Mike takes the wedge and eats it. He tosses the rine to Sam who throws it on the table.
Mike says “Thanks.”
Mike is in his early 20’s. He might even be 20. The previous night he and I had a great discussion about thelema, philosophy and religion. Yet this same person is now acting like the 14 year old sitting next to him. He is straddled between early adulthood and adolescence. I remember those times. I am glad I am no longer there.
I make a note to Melissa about time. We start to talk about where we would like to go. Melissa states that I am a vegetarian so that can be considered in the conversation. I suggest Indian. Katherine says she can’t stand anything spicy. She also states that the Indian around here is not that great. We eventually decide on Thai food. She pays the waiter $6.50 for the drinks and we leave the tent.
Katherine looks at me and Melissa and says, “The Thai restaurant also has outside seating. That is important in Toronto; everyone likes to sit outside during the summer.”
Katherine is in her mid forties, but by her looks you would think she was much older. She has not had an easy life and it is written in the wrinkles on her face. Her hair is brown and hangs straight past her shoulders. She has a number of blonde streaks throughout it. She has large silver hoop earrings and an ankh hanging from the left one. She is wearing a yellow dress and a white shawl. She walks with a dignity and grace that seems well earned. I can’t say I like her, but I don’t dislike her either. My verdict about her is still out but it is obvious that if you wanted to know about the esoteric in Toronto, she would be one of the people to ask.
The Thai restaurant is four blocks from where we were. On arrival, we take our seat outside. I look at my watch, 5:20pm. I say “I have to be on a plane in 3 hours.” Everyone looks surprised that I am there. I smile and say we have to leave by six. I order Jasmine tea and tell Melissa to order me mixed vegetables with tofu; I am going to wash my hands, they are dirty from the used book store. The bathroom is up stairs in the back of the restaurant. The hallway to it has a number of posters that I see at every Thai restaurant I go to. I wonder if they are supplied by the Thai government’s tourism department. Oddly enough along with the Thai posters is a poster for a kabuki show that will be in Toronto later this month.
When I return to the table they are still ordering food. My tea arrives and is quite good. Sam and Mike are telling a series of dumb jokes, all revolving around the theme of screwing light bulbs.
“How many paraplegics does it take to screw in a light bulb?”
“How many punks does it take to screw in a light bulb?”
“How many divorced men does it take to screw in a light bulb?”
A few are funny, but most are not. Sam is Katherine’s son. He seems to be a smart, kid who is completely accustomed to being around counter culture. He has curly brown hair and is wearing jeans and a Asian styled shirt, one that resembles the uniform shirt I wore in Taiwan. It is back with while cuffs. He wears a black t-shirt underneath. He laughs and smiles like he does not have a care in the world. Katherine must do a good job or shouldering life’s burdens for him.
The food is brought out in waves; first the spring rolls and rice; then Melissa’s entree, then Mike’s, Sam’s and Katherine’s; finally mine. The food is very good. The conversation goes from religion to the best way to go to the subway to get to Yonge street. At one point Sam looks at Melissa and says, “Wait your not a vegetarian but you are?” pointing to me. “How do you guys live together?” Melissa and I just laugh.
At ten ‘til six I ask for the check. Melissa and I settle it and then say our goodbyes. I shake hands with the guys and give Katherine a hug. I say it was great seeing everyone and I look forward to seeing them again the next time I come up.
Sam says, “Nice shirt by the way. Most guys can’t get away with wearing orange but you look good in it. I know I can’t wear it.” I laugh and smile. Then Melissa and I leave to go to the hotel.
The store owner knows him and pulls out a paper bag. “I have something you may want to see.” he says to Mike. He hands three Sure Fire Press/Holmes Publishing chap books to Mike. Mike asks how much.
“I will sell them to you for $10 each. If you don’t buy them I’ll have to look up how much they are really worth on the internet”
Mike pulls out his wallet to see how much he has. “I’ll take two of them.”
I hand the store owner my books and charge them on my debit card. We head out. The sky is overcast, yesterday was a much nicer day. However the weather was still cool and good for walking around.
Mike says to Melissa, “Katherine is waiting for us.”
Melissa asks where.
“Just down the street at a sushi place. I figure we can have dinner there.”
Melissa pauses and then says “But we had sushi last night, why don’t we go somewhere else.”
“OK, we’ll see what Katherine suggests.”
The restaurant we are going to is at the end of the block. We enter the patio area that is covered by, a large tent. After passing a horde of teenage girls Mike goes to a white plastic picnic table where a woman and young boy are sitting. He sits next to the boy. Katherine sees Melissa, smiles and says hello. Melissa sits in front of her leaving a chair between Mike and herself. I introduce myself to Katherine and the boy; he says his name is Sam.
It is apparent that Mike, Sam and Katherine are all very good friends. They immediately start chatting. Then Katherine and Melissa start talking about the books we purchased. I take them out the bags and pass them around. Mike and Sam start talking about the sprite in front of Sam.
“Can I have your lemon wedge?” Mike asks.
“Sure.” Sam replies.
Mike takes the wedge and eats it. He tosses the rine to Sam who throws it on the table.
Mike says “Thanks.”
Mike is in his early 20’s. He might even be 20. The previous night he and I had a great discussion about thelema, philosophy and religion. Yet this same person is now acting like the 14 year old sitting next to him. He is straddled between early adulthood and adolescence. I remember those times. I am glad I am no longer there.
I make a note to Melissa about time. We start to talk about where we would like to go. Melissa states that I am a vegetarian so that can be considered in the conversation. I suggest Indian. Katherine says she can’t stand anything spicy. She also states that the Indian around here is not that great. We eventually decide on Thai food. She pays the waiter $6.50 for the drinks and we leave the tent.
Katherine looks at me and Melissa and says, “The Thai restaurant also has outside seating. That is important in Toronto; everyone likes to sit outside during the summer.”
Katherine is in her mid forties, but by her looks you would think she was much older. She has not had an easy life and it is written in the wrinkles on her face. Her hair is brown and hangs straight past her shoulders. She has a number of blonde streaks throughout it. She has large silver hoop earrings and an ankh hanging from the left one. She is wearing a yellow dress and a white shawl. She walks with a dignity and grace that seems well earned. I can’t say I like her, but I don’t dislike her either. My verdict about her is still out but it is obvious that if you wanted to know about the esoteric in Toronto, she would be one of the people to ask.
The Thai restaurant is four blocks from where we were. On arrival, we take our seat outside. I look at my watch, 5:20pm. I say “I have to be on a plane in 3 hours.” Everyone looks surprised that I am there. I smile and say we have to leave by six. I order Jasmine tea and tell Melissa to order me mixed vegetables with tofu; I am going to wash my hands, they are dirty from the used book store. The bathroom is up stairs in the back of the restaurant. The hallway to it has a number of posters that I see at every Thai restaurant I go to. I wonder if they are supplied by the Thai government’s tourism department. Oddly enough along with the Thai posters is a poster for a kabuki show that will be in Toronto later this month.
When I return to the table they are still ordering food. My tea arrives and is quite good. Sam and Mike are telling a series of dumb jokes, all revolving around the theme of screwing light bulbs.
“How many paraplegics does it take to screw in a light bulb?”
“How many punks does it take to screw in a light bulb?”
“How many divorced men does it take to screw in a light bulb?”
A few are funny, but most are not. Sam is Katherine’s son. He seems to be a smart, kid who is completely accustomed to being around counter culture. He has curly brown hair and is wearing jeans and a Asian styled shirt, one that resembles the uniform shirt I wore in Taiwan. It is back with while cuffs. He wears a black t-shirt underneath. He laughs and smiles like he does not have a care in the world. Katherine must do a good job or shouldering life’s burdens for him.
The food is brought out in waves; first the spring rolls and rice; then Melissa’s entree, then Mike’s, Sam’s and Katherine’s; finally mine. The food is very good. The conversation goes from religion to the best way to go to the subway to get to Yonge street. At one point Sam looks at Melissa and says, “Wait your not a vegetarian but you are?” pointing to me. “How do you guys live together?” Melissa and I just laugh.
At ten ‘til six I ask for the check. Melissa and I settle it and then say our goodbyes. I shake hands with the guys and give Katherine a hug. I say it was great seeing everyone and I look forward to seeing them again the next time I come up.
Sam says, “Nice shirt by the way. Most guys can’t get away with wearing orange but you look good in it. I know I can’t wear it.” I laugh and smile. Then Melissa and I leave to go to the hotel.