Visiting Seattle and Home, Starting a New Job
10/3/18 1:07AM (MST?) I'm somewhere over Montana now, on my way from Seattle to NYC. Time with Daphne was a blur, partially because I was so deprived of sleep and jetlagged. But we had quite a fun time together. On Sunday, we went to the Vital Tea tea place in Chinatown to restock on Milk Oolong. I remember pausing during the first morning to revel in its magic: we woke up to pick delicious vegetables in her housemate's burgeoning garden and cooked a delicious breakfast in the sunshine, while her other housemate Axel serenaded us on the guitar. We then checked out Panama Hotel and Tea House, which had a historic element to it as a repository of effects for those sent to Japanese detainment camps in the US. After Panama Hotel, we met her friends Amanda and Arnie (DILF) and their toddler daughter, who were pressing wine. Showed Daphne Baby Cobra after dinner at home.
The next day we went climbing for 3 hours at Vertical World in Ballard, then went to the woodshop, where I met some of Daphne's woodworking friends. After, I left to explore some of the local businesses/cafes, including a hazelnut brownie recommendation and delicious Wuyi black tea at Miro tea, before I took a Lyft to eat steak with Ruben at the Google cafeteria.
8:40PM 10/6/18 PHL Afterward, Daphne picked me up and we returned to her house, spending a short dinner with her housemate Axel. I started watching Hero Academia, which was very enjoyable. On the final day in Seattle, we woke earyl to grab breakfast with her friends Andrew and Sheila at Cafe Avole, an Ethiopean place with spiced fava beans and steeped coffee. Afterward, I took a nap in a hammock on the sunny deck, and we headed to Seward Park in the bright sunshine. We walked all around (me in her roommate Emmy's sneakers), then we headed to Hadar Iron, a pottery study run out of her friend's house. The middle-aged Israeli mother was a stoic, but friendly, and not very vocal about explaining how to make pottery. Still, it was cool to try for the first time throwing/molding the clay. Afterward, we stopped by the grocery store to grab me dinner, then met her housemates at home.
I honestly can't remember how much of the flight I slept on, though it was only 4.5 hrs to JFK. It was fairly easy to get to Jamaica Station, then Penn Station, then Secaucus, where my parents picked me up. We grabbed breakfast at a local diner, then headed to a sculpture park sponsored J. Seward Johnson. I was underwhelmed, but loved that my parents were out and about and away for an excursion. After returning home briefly, mom and I met Liv to see her wedding dress which arrived. Afterward, I looked for running shoes, then we went to dinner at Cheesecake Factory. The next day we played poker at Borgata, then ordered Chinese food, and had Kim and Andy and Liv over to play Heads Up! The following day Mom and I went to the store, lookin for suits. Afterward, we grabbed groceries, grille some meat, tried out the air fryer, watched The Greatest Showman (ok IMO, but they really liked it). And finally, today we had Nan's birthday dinner at an Italian restaurant, picking up Aunt Joann and Uncle Johnny.
And now I depart for Boston, reuniting with Mark.
Being home is always so difficult - I feel powerless to help my family with their problems. I am left simply with a profound sadness: about my grandmother's failing mind; about my father's neglected health; about my mother's mental health; about my sister's accrued debts. It is a reminder of a few things: first, of all the privileges I've been afforded and enjoy that my family cannot; second, of how I've always felt we live in 2 separate worlds that feel like they continue to grow apart with time.
What is this lived experience of mine and why does it always feel so deficient?
10/22/18: It's Monday, exactly 1 week from the time since I started my new job, and about 3 full weeks since I've returned to Boston. Since then:
-we traded in my old car ($1.2K), and got a 2017 Honda Accord with ~31.5K mi for ~$17K. -I worked on finalizing the invite and address list for the wedding -I made significant progress in Dragon Age: Inquisition -I returned to CBVA and hosted a board meeting at the house -I hosted a game night at the house -I learned how to use my pressure cooker and made beef barley soup 2x, 2x chicken dishes, 2x vegetable dishes, dumplings, and pasta with veggies, sustaining our household the past 2 weeks. I made lemon bars and brought them into work for my new colleagues -And started my new job. Am already feeling overwhelmed at all I have to learn, but encouraged by how low of expectations everyone has regarding my productivity for the first few months - year. The space is beautiful, the people friendly, the science of good-looking quality. I literally scheduled 9-10 lunches with various people I've known from various lives before the company that are now my co-workers. -went 3-5 in a Men's C tournament -went out to dinner on Friday night with Mark and on a joyride to great Meadows in Lexington on Saturday morning. Went for beers with Kevin and Erin on Saturday night.
In honor of my 32nd birthday, I recounted the various places and events of the past year. I won an MC+ tournament, an MC tournament, and the BBC. I also played NOLA and Nationals and Atlanta. I visited Seattle and SF and LA and Chicago and NYC and NJ and NC and Japan and Hampton Beach and Ptown. I won the Ragnar in under 21 hrs. I got another publication. I learned a computer language. I made some money. I served another year on the board.