10th
I skidaddled out of Toronto and spent a few days in NYC with friends and for work meetings and with family in CT; was so good to see everyone. Now that I’m back in Toronto my mind’s still kind of effervescing/fermenting with various experiences:
Staying with Nora and M., they’re such fabulous hosts. You tumblrs and Nora have been very sympathetic about the unwelcome and gigantic rat in my kitchen in Turkey and all the associated tribulations. In NYC Nora had made up the most comfy bed for me and perched on the pillow was a stuffed rat with a little silver bow. She said tenderly “I got you the rat, so you wouldn’t get homesick!”. I fell about laughing. It barely fit in my luggage when I left so part of it was kind of hanging out of my backpack. I looked at Nora, a little unsure about whether I really wanted this rat in my life. She tilted her head, gave this very Nora smile; wry and elegant, and said “Don’t worry, you definitely won’t be the weirdest person on the subway”. She was right…
Elementary school friends of mine on facebook arranging a classmate’s memorial service in London. I last spoke to some of these people when we were 9. No shit, we all know death now.
Seeing one of my favourite people, a friend from Michigan. We escaped 43 000 runners in the NYC marathon on Sunday and explored the Rubin museum in NYC. I learnt that we are both very good at impersonating dancing buddhas, their benevolent hand positions and facial expressions. At one point I asked him earnestly if he’d ever tried meditative chanting. He said “yes” and then clarified “Go Blue, Go Blue!”.
Walking around the High Line and the village with this same friend, trying to make sense of life, talking about our friends and loved ones, our psychology, our development, analyzing which bell struck as we walked through Vitiello’s “A bell for every minute”…I want more minutes with him.
Spending time doing tight turns in a car that does 0-60 in 4.3…Trying to picture the biological processes of my own fear as a pro squash player friend got a little cocky with his coordination around a bend coming back from “The Dressing Room” restaurant in Westport, CT.
Getting a chance to meet and work out with awesome pilates people like the twins, Katherine and Kimberly from Pilates on Fifth.
Happening upon a house I used to live in on W 11th St when I was about 5yrs old…Going past the pet store I used to walk by on my way to school with my Mummy, where there used to be a parrot named Groucho with big Groucho Marx eyebrows.
Having a long conversation with my stepmother about Theresienstadt, music and hate. Watching the trailer for Alice Dancing Under the Gallows, the documentary about the oldest survivor of the Nazi camps, how she kept her son with her, how she played, how she never hated…
Lying back in pedicure chairs with Nora, our voices vibrating as the chairs pleasantly pummeled our backs…eating her greens pie!!!! Going to má pêche with Nora and M and friends. Discussing the resources available for special needs kids in San Francisco. Amazing food, so much fun.
Flying out of LGA, looking down at the boats on the Hudson.
Back in Toronto, the kittens LOVE the rat. Tragos, you’re being replaced, get out here.
