mystic_savage

I left the house today at 2:00 and took the bus to Traveler's.  I was to meet Chuck at 4:30 at the convention center, and wanted to groove around downtown for a bit before I went.  So:  I wore my lucky vest, and went to Traveler's (which is always lucky) and drank a cup of their chai (which is beyond luck -- it's actually magic, that chai).  I sat there and soaked up the atmosphere for awhile and went into the shop part of the store and looked around, not needing to buy anything but just happy to be there.  Exchanged a few words with Liam, the proprietor, who recognized me although he doesn't really know my name.  But we have a distantly pleasant relationship and I like him a lot.  Left Traveler's and went around the block to Babes in Toyland and then to Edge of the Circle.  Again, no need to buy anything.  In fact, in Edge of the Circle I looked at all the magic books and all the spirituality books and just had this moment of recognition that after thirty years of reading about all that stuff, I'm really tired of reading about it.  So I left and continued down the hill.  Stopped in at a furniture store that I'd never been in and had no intention of staying in, but was there for quite awhile because they didn't have just furniture, but also really cool candles and fans and desktop fru-frus and cool greeting cards.  It was a good place to explore.  Stopped in at a coffee shop, Uncle Elizabeth's, which I pass on the bus every morning and have always been curious about.  It's one of those places that's cooler on the outside than the inside, and I won't need to go back again, but it was a good place to spend ten minutes and the espresso, while nothing to write home about, wasn't too bad.  Continued down the hill.

Got to the convention center about an hour early, so headed up to the lobby on the second floor and hung out and read.  The security guard passed me once but decided I was well dressed enough he wouldn't hassle me (although I didn't have a convention badge).  I'm reading "Digging to America" by Anne Tyler and it's really good.  Went down to the meeting place with about ten minutes to spare and didn't have to wait too long for Chuck.  And had a very, very happy time catching up with him.

We sat and talked for a minute or two and then walked toward Wild Ginger, where we were seated at Table 9, which, as it turns out, is the same table I've been seated at the last two times I've been there.  Wild Ginger isn't a small place -- it has easily -- what?  40? 50? tables...more?  So it's quite a coincidence to be at this wonderful booth where I have good memories.  Chuck and I had a good meal -- a tuna thing and a chicken thing and a wonderful bok choi thing, and I had a mango daquiri and a vicodin and the conversation was mellow and loving and interesting and as always when I'm with Chuck I fell in love with him.  It's impossible not to.  I defy anybody to spend an hour or two with Chuck and not fall in love with him.  I don't think it's possible.  It's not that he's terribly suave--in fact, he's not.  He's sincere and has integrity and he's thoughtful and there's just something undeniably super wonderful about him.   After dinner, we walked to Bartell's where he picked up some headache medicine and I shopped for makeup and chatted with the clerk about skin care products.  Her secret is to mix baby oil with grains of sugar.  Mine is oatmeal.  Her name was Amy.  We had a great conversation, enhanced no doubt by my general feeling of well-being from being with Chuck and feeling like we're in a good place with each other.

So...we walked toward my bus stop and kissed a little bit while waiting for the bus, and I gave money to a guy whose sign said he just wanted money for pot, and money to my favorite busker (a drummer who is often outside of Nordstrom's at rush hour--the blond guy with the beard who plays a variety of drums and rhythms from different parts of the world and is pretty damn good.  Also, he looks like Jesus.  The blond Jesus.) And after another fifteen minutes, my bus came and I kissed Chuck good bye.  It was the perfect Saturday afternoon/early evening date.

I ran into Frances and Anna on the bus and we talked about writing and work parties and cohousing until we got to Duwamish.  Disembarked and walked with them through the community,  and found myself at Kevin's house with Kevin and the kids, sharing the lovely biscotti Chuck had brought me with them, and talking about family stuff with Penny and Sar.  Kevin and I are on the same page with parenting more and more these days.  It helps, I think, that the kids always make it pretty evident to us when things aren't good for them (eg, too much tv).  Anyway, made a plan for hanging out with them tomorrow and that was a wonderful cap to the evening.  Got back home around 8 pm, and am now updating this before I do my creative writing for the night. 

Love to all !

V.

Just spent a lovely weekend in Nooksack with iguanahey and wandawonka.  Most memorable moment:  drinking tea under an outdoor pavilion in a thunderstorm.  Much goodness this weekend with their kids and our kids getting along very well, playing with rock band (kids & adults), just sitting and visiting and not trying to accomplish too much.  Did get down to the river with iguanahey for a bit this morning -- there are some beautiful stones out there.  Now:  back, hot, getting unpacked, drinking iced water.  Ready to rest.