My block and neighborhood were quieter than in years past, but the People Through the Trees (as I will now call them) seemed to have lost their damn minds. If there was something to see, I would appreciate it, to a point. There's never anything to see, just hours of noise. I wanted to know what they were celebrating, but I'll wait until the Leopards Eat Their Faces to ask.
I am tempted to start believing in hell because so many deserve to go there.
We are parched here. Later, I'll drag another jug of water up to the grove.
The day dawned blazing, demanding I get off my ass and conjure up some colors. After a little stalling, I fell into the rhythm of it. But the colors...I won't know until tomorrow, of course.
Thanks for this, Liz. Too much for a tattoo, but I'm tempted to find music for it.
Do not forget gratitude. Work to make it shareable.
Teachers do not make enough money. I kept running out of ways to keep him focused on math.
But there was so much to discuss. The latest developments in the Marvel Universe. All things about living with a cat. A sometimes too-challenging video gane that signals when he"s tired.
I try to keep a light tread over current affairs. Shared horror giggles over Eau de Shitweasel. I remind him that these are adult concerns - his job is to be a child a while longer. Kindness and doing your best is all we should ask. Charlie delivers.
Unfortunately, I let him know that my math game has been weak since the third grade. I barely got by. He's fast approaching the edge of my number comfort zone. When they start slinging fractions around I'll be in trouble.
I'm good with time, money, percentages, and practical geometry, but the mechanics of naked arithmetic seemed greased to me. Except word problems.
He gets better with each practice.
I got heartburn dividing three digits by two digits.
This fur snake was not having me stitching. We are frozen here- me daring to draw a threaded needle through the cloth, she waiting to pounce on my move. Until she climbs into her tower for a kitten nap and I have ten or so minutes to work.
...of the summer wheel. Somehow, I missed Solstice.
I usually don't pull two cards for the Choice position. Up to now, it's been an "either or not" situation. This morning, I wanted to expand on the notion. "Why choose?" is a nice option - wiggle room for a storyteller.
Pretty clear that this one is for me.
I'm packing to spend a week with Charlie and plan on bringing stuff with me this time. Stuff to keep me OFF THE PHONE.
Stitching, thread to prep, cloth, my Tarot, a good book or two, and the big laptop where the writing happens.
The last week I was there, I went nearly empty-handed and found that I needed my own tools. Cartoons and Lego don't go all that far for me anymore.
Bailey and Salem are working through missing Camilla. A neighbor kitty, Lily, has moved away with her master. I offered to take her if a post-divorce situation left her homeless. Thankfully for her, her human is steadfast in his devotion.
I will also be over there with a shovel, liberating some irises and cannas.
I haven't discussed it with anyone out loud, but I would not be averse to the Cat Universe Distribution system blessing us with a full house once I've finished my summer travels. A super catio must be a part of this.
Once, there were four.
And monkeying around with machine-made, store-bought stuff is entertaining. Feels a bit like graffiti.
At first, I didn't know what to make of this. Did I own it, or was I drawing for others? I never ask anything of the cards when I do Choice, Chance, and/or Change. These cards didn't fit that pattern. I was empty-headed for a minute. I need to learn to accept that state- "No Clue". Then, the story told itself.
We all have it in ourselves to pull our shit together, to come up with whatever works best for ourselves and those we care about for the best outcome. We have the power.
~O~
Finally, I got in the pool. There was a lot of work to do. Scrubbing that can only be done while you're in it. Skimming, vacuuming. Checking the hoses for leaks. I have the chemistry down to a relatively inexpensive science. Colin did a great job on a significant patch. There's a lot that can go wrong, so I remind myself that we got this pool in 1998 and that nothing lasts forever. Savor it.
But once the work was done, I climbed aboard the mighty River Rafter (complete with drink holders) and read over some of the story I've been working on. Writing still does it for me.
It's late and I'm sore and tired. Bit off a bit too much for day one.
I did a worry rag out of my personal stash earlier in the year.
Mindless stitching that resulted in a wretched mess.
This morning, I sat with it—no music, no radio, no TV, just stillness—and started removing all those pointless stitches. Good progress was made and I took the time to assess my place in the day rather than let the uncontrollable bullshit set my course.
These bits and pieces have been with me a long time. I don't want to waste them.
Colin is becoming quite the chef. I don't think I ever garnished anything in my life. Fresh chopped green stuff.
Chicken Parmesan made without mozzarella cheese and chicken thighs instead of breasts. Eating what's in the pantry and freezer these days.
It doesn't happen often that they are in the same place at the same time, so I always pay attention.
The pool pump was rescued, and the burgers were well done.
Charlie was scooped up and returned to his world. Mine is kind of small for him, but we had some fun.
This is the latest we've had the pool up and running in many years. Maybe swim season will push deep into October this year.
And, as of this writing, I still haven't been in the water. Soon, soon.
As summer unfurls, I'll be in two places, balancing. Early in the week, I was with Charlie and Nibbler in their world and doings. Then Charlie came back here to my house for the first time since Christmas.
Colin was ready with the Bijou Lacativa Art House Movie Theater, complete with recliners, popcorn, trailers, shorts, and the feature chosen by Charlie at the last second: Star Trek IV. A good time was had by all!
I don't know what I'd be doing with life without him.
He's very interested in time travel and What Ifs, but I've been clear to show him that even the slightest tickle of history has a domino effect on the present.
Along with that comes the responsibility for one's actions and moment-to-moment choices. Sober stuff for an almost eleven-year-old, but he's a never-ending river of questions, and I'm just an old wizard who's kept some precious memories.
Nibbler seems to be frozen in kittenhood, and we are all fine with it.
I don't know about anyone else, but I got a good night's sleep for the first time in ages last night. To know that there are so very many people who feel like I do. I also thought about those who wanted to come out but couldn't for many reasons. There is still much to do.
The weather goddess worked in our favor here in Georgia. There was thunder in the air. Thunder in my heart. It wasn't until after I got to the park that I realized that I did NOT have a current copy of registration or insurance. Sure, e-versions are legit, but I had no idea if local LEOs were on their last nerves. I actually pulled up behind a unit parked in front of St. Margaret's to ask if my banner was illegal, plate being obscured and all.
I put on my flashers, got out, and went around to the back of my car to get a look. Opened the trunk, adjusted the banner, and closed it before approaching the police car. Then I realized that my actions in that moment would have been highly suspicious, possibly terrifying to an officer who was pulled over doing paperwork.
I walked off to the side with my hands empty and visible, only to find that no one was in the patrol car. I got back in my car and headed out. My crumbling vertebrae might keep me from walking or running, but nothing could keep me from driving. The local park was not a rallying place, but it was busy enough to gather some supportive honks and waves. The few miles to home were uneventful. As I pulled into the driveway, the skies opened for real.
News of Brian Wilson's passing rippled through my dreams. My friend's mother engineered a surprise sixteenth birthday party for her daughter. I only had to walk two houses up the street in my finery. The boys even wore jackets.
I was very intent on making an impression on a certain young buck. Then someone flipped Pet Sounds over to side two, and I remember being completely spellbound by my first time hearing "God Only Knows". This may have been the moment.
After all the teenage foolery of the Beach Boys' music, where had this miracle come from? I'm pretty sure I went home soon after. Alone and fine with it. Thank you, Brian, for opening that door.
