Pathetic. My arm feels like I've been hurling
javelins instead of playing darts last night. I'm shuffling around
drinking coffee. I'm thinking about the colorful characters in my
life. People who wear cosy pj's to a late movie at
their neighborhood theater. This friend orders popcorn, Bloody
Mary's, and brings her own olive jar. Need I say more.
A new friend, which I shall call Rose has
firecracker eyes. She pops with personality. Her high energy makes a 2
year old boy look lethargic. She was born screaming without the butt
slap. Her rich roller coaster stories makes my head swell.
Too many tales. The flood brought us together. A neighbor you would
normally just wave at becomes a connection. She's in therapy. I'm in therapy.
We should all be in therapy. She finds things that were in the flood and
makes art. Recovering lost pieces...recovering sanity..Missing
pieces of a puzzle that needs to be put back together.
We knock on her condo door she rents. Hammer is
there. He had a scary brush with death during the flood. He's
presently our friendly neighborhood squatter. My favorite home on the
river will be bulldozed. That's where Hammer lives for now. He's
taking care of his good friend's house.
Hammer smiles and hugs us. He's a bit tipsy and red in the face.
He's telling me something about brishish combia. "I'm
sorry...what?" I say to him. "You know...brishish
combia....lake Louise" he says holding on to the wall. "Oh
BC...yes yes...very pretty' I say back at him. I'm being twirled from room to
room with stories about all the furniture. Through the laughter, there's
sadness, but also strength .. a healthy sign. The more my new friend
talks, the more I see her big soft marshmallow heart.
Eagle man walks into the condo. I call him that
because he once saved an eagle. Admirable. That's all I know. I see
mystery Eagle man every Tuesday at the Bored meetings. That's
it.
Hammer announces that "the rrriver is showww
beautiful...let's go shee it". I ask "Is this really a
good idea?" No one pays attention to me.
Rose is digging through her closet in search of warm
clothes. David gets a tight short white leather jacket with red stars and
dangling fringes on his arms. He's ready to sing Rolling on the River. I
have lots of layers...a Grey Garden kind of look.
It's crazy cold outside. Rose is loud. Lights come on. I see
a few shades part open. I'm thinking these kind of neighbors have never
experienced such action in their life. Hammer is
zigzagging behind us in the parking lot. Rose brings us to a
spot to see the the river. Hammer has disappeared ...probably fell in
a bush. More lights come on. The word police flashes in my head.
"No, really officer we are looking for the river."
"There!" says loud Rose pointing in front of her
"Shee it?" Rose is now also slurring with enthusiasm. My
loopy head is swirling. More lights come on. I look at cowboy David. All
he needs is one of those wooden horse toy to complete his outfit.
We squint hard to see the river. It's like we're staring into the black
abyss.
Rose is trampling back to the condo and trips over
something in a neighbor's yard. More lights. We somehow make it back
to the condo. Hammer is sitting on the kitchen floor eating something
chocolaty out of a cup. He looks 12 with chocolate all around his mouth.
I look at Hammer on the floor and a grinning David in
fringes. Time to call it a night. There will be more Hammer, Rose and
Eagle man time in our future. We all been through a lot this
year. We all carry a nutty bag. That's who we are said Rose.
I like that. I salute them and their great spirit. I salute myself as
well. Namaste
copyright Diane Sesler 1/24/11
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