2003-07-27
2003-07-27 - 8:30 p.m.
My sensory memory of the last four days is so full that it�s going to take at least a week to process all of the individual sights, textures and scents. In addition, either I�m pretty damned sick or my throat and lungs are protesting rough treatment. For now, here are some moments that stand out:
Standing on the balcony at Art Teacher�s beautiful home, gazing out over a canyon full of new-growth pines. Inhaling deeply to pull in the chemical tang of a newly stained redwood deck, hot planks under my bare feet.
The leap in my spirit when Joan McGowan-Michael said, �Do you come to the knitting circle every first and third Sundays?� Her invitation, offered at the end of a long-awaited conversation about her designs and inspiration, was most welcome. I�ll see you there, Joan!
Being wakened by an early summer breeze through the checked white cotton of my bedroom curtains. Turning over gently so as not to disturb the kind man sleeping to my left.
Food here, there and everywhere: Korean bean paste on my forearm, spicy stewed lamb on my thigh, dark chocolate-Kahlua fondue on my shoulder blade.
The whiz of eight bike tires on a north fork of the American River Bikeway, wild fennel tipping the air with licorice. Sightings of a fox, long-eared hares and one displaced blue crane.
Thursday: single nervous giggles in the shower. Friday: paired vehicular laughter in the California hills. Saturday: a roomful of belly cackles from seven half-drunk poker players.
�Allyson, your breasts are like rays of hope for a better world!�
These were four rich, funny, sweet and too-short days. I can�t remember the last time I laughed so hard. These days were also complex and difficult. There�s work to do. That�s okay by me. For now, though, I�m indulging in comfort by watching the extended version of Fellowship of the Ring and knitting.
I cast on today for Siana�s Puppy Love coat from the Monkeysuits. It shouldn�t take long. (She says, knowing that she�s infinitely distractible and the slowest knitter on record.) It�s time to work on projects for other people again. In between baby clothes I hope to do some quickie chemo caps for the American Cancer Society. Since I�ve been selfish and haven�t made time for volunteer work this year, knitting�s an absolute minimum.
There�s also aquarium cleanup headed my way. Poor Pep, the coral-banded shrimp, didn�t last 24 hours after shedding. I don�t know if he was crushed by shifting coral or chomped by the Coral Beauty, but either way, his absence opens up new possibilities for the marine tank. I can either decide to transform the tank into a reef, which means lots of money on live rock and invertebrates, or buy fish like a porcupine puffer or niger trigger, both of which would have treated Pep as dinner. I�ll be visiting Mr. Kim down at O Street Aquarium as soon as I�m feeling better.
The Nyquil�s kicking in and Aragorn�s letting Frodo cross the Eastern Shore, so it�s time to go. Oh, and by the way, don�t forget to stop by Ms Lovejoy�s reviews this week!
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