August 18, 2005

• I haven't gotten to write about it yet the bike trip for we were too
  busy afterward pooling packing and so forth, but last weekend Erin and
  I did 36 miles, cold, around the county and it was incredible. We set
  off so early there was still dew and all, for you know you have to in
  Florida in early August/anytime, really. We reached the highway (our
  usual trek's ending-point) with into-traffic shouts of -I'm not tired
  yet! and hardly-heard -Me neither!s, and at the risk of being all Y Tu
  Mama Tambien-y and interrupting perfectly self-sufficient adolescent
  antics with a too-long pause and half-pertinent social commentary, in
  translation, that's where I feel the trip took a turn. The striking
  juxtaposition of Riversedge estates with the Prison-passing shortcut
  Erin proposed (they got quite the kick out of us pedaling by in Soffes
  down crumbling Detention Center Lane letmetellyou...) made the journey
  not only physically grueling, but Tour de Economic Spectrum of Brevard
  County-y as well. We stopped for a lovely lunch in Cocoa Village at a
  casual cafe with an enchanting courtyard view, then researched puppies
  for an hour or so in the Central County Library, right on the water and
  well-stocked on grooming, etc., guides. I love Erin so and it felt
  amazing to collapse afterward on her formal living room floor--it's so
  serene in there--and look at the collectible plates on the wall in
  exhaustion. We rewarded ourselves pre-her going away party the next day
  with a nice long float in the pool and new cosmetics, then watched
  movies at my house avec Gobstoppers which led to Amber and I laughing
  uncontrollably for a good half-hour in my bed and actually calling Nick
  at past-midnight I fear his time and asking him to impersonate Arnold
  S. in Kindergarten Cop. O "VHULD YOU LIKE TO SHTROKE MY FEGHRET?!", O
  SUMMER!

  Life at times like this isn't trying to say But look what better than
  Best Love Ever'll come your way or See now what you're learning! but
  rather Appreciate what you haven't, Choose with conviction and is
  forcing me to face one big o the humanity and relate outside my pretty
  little "You here, You here, Me drinking a mango smoothie with You here,
  and You a block away ready to meet Us at the gallery" paperdoll game
  that never ever pans out etc. So I read accounts of authors I
  admire--Auden living in Berlin slums after Oxford for a year and say
  this is only five months and I'm living in a trendy area and have my
  mind and the Museum, and of the eccentric peer-worshipped selling fried
  chicken or undertaking (the dead), and then my French phrases calendar
  reminds me with parenthetic asides of (lit.) or (idiom) that EXPERIENCE
  MAKES THE MAN.

  To list the Good Things, I'm going this weekend to Gainesville to see
  Erin's new apartment, her ship painting mounted and to walk the town
  and read and have tea and talk, finally--it's been over a week and I'm
  right spasming without her to reason things through with. I'm having
  lunch with a high school friend I haven't seen since graduation Monday,
  and the member of one of three romances forbidden for religious reasons
  but clandestine continuing that I hear updates on at least monthly,
  even though we decided it's silly to add At least we're ALLOWED to be
  together! to the Why Things Could be Worse list. I want to emerge from
  the year two thousand five not jealous of anyone, ever, and with sheer
  charisma and the ability to be gracious to every being on the planet.
  If not, at least Nick and I and maybe the others will be going skiing
  for a week then, perhaps even in France.

  Doctor Zhivago's savory on maybe an even disproportionately-so
  level--I'm rationing it hourly and reading Tell Me the Truth About Love
  over and over in between. Does anyone else feel weepy and fatigued
  every time they fly from Pacific time back to Eastern, so that I can
  please blame this Zhivagofervor on jetlag? (Marin County's as amazing
  as ever, I was never so happy to see Emily, and Nick and I are closer
  yet as friends, with newfound classic rock fiendery on my part and the
  freshest food and mad soulshaking love for all.)

  • 2:08 am
  • 1 Comment