May 8, 2008
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Up up and away
I’m off to Michigan this afternoon, away for a long weekend with family. Last night, arranging airport pick up plans, my mom said something to the effect of: “soon you’ll be home and you won’t have to lift a finger. Just let everyone take care of you.” I thought she was joking and laughed. I’d sincerely forgotten that there was a place in this world where there are people willing to say such a nice thing and mean it. Thinking back on it now, I realize how crass and mean I must have sounded.
I look forward to softening, to setting my own pace for a while. I’m looking forward to kicking back in The Union with beer and Bryan. I’m looking forward to stopping by LA Cafe and getting a snickerdoodle cookie from The Village Bakery. I’m looking forward to cheering on my cousin Sheri as she walks across the stage and holds her hands out for a well-deserved doctorate in pharmacy. I’m looking forward to sitting at the kitchen table with my mother-in-law, letting down my guard and telling her more than I meant to; when she’s calm, my mother-in-law is a beautiful listener, like her son. I’m looking forward to kyaking with my mom on Sunday, and hopefully going to the newly re-vamped Clarkston Cafe with her for fancy pizzas; my mom makes me feel like me, no-matter how lost I am. I’m looking forward to running into my favorite high school teacher on the sidewalk, as I usually do when I’m out running and he’s taking his dog Sam out for a morning walk. I’m looking forward to possibly getting my hair cut–a ‘do that would easily cost me $70 in NYC will cost $40 (tops) in Michigan. I’m looking forward to a blizzard at Dairy Dream with my brothers. My brothers! My tall and loveable brothers! I’m looking forward to reading to my nephews and smelling their little-kid hair as they sit all squiggly in my lap. And I’m really, really looking forward to being with Shaun. Lately, after we walk to the subway together in the morning (he takes the #1, I take the A), I don’t see him until 11pm, when I’m bleary-eyed and crawling into bed after a long day of work. But this weekend, we’ll be together. With others, but together, holding hands and laughing at the things only we can see.
Comments (5)
Sounds fantastic to me.
wooohooo! A little infusion of the good stuff. You’ve been dealing with such the opposite of being taken care of it is no wonder the thought was at first foreign to you. Have a great time!
ooh, I hope you had an amazing time.
Found your literary comments at Boo’s interesting and saved that paragraph on structure. Also saw the comment that cat Giles was mending, now know the reason, glad he’s better. Read somewhere that is the #1 cause of house cats’ demise; they get caught up in the moment and forget where they are, “I can catch that bird, mouse, etc…” Your description of being locked out of the alley/neighborhood and contrast with your neighbors being locked out of their greater world was facinating and illuminating – you should do something more with that – could easilly be a piece on the end page of the Sunday Times Magazine. Sorry to learn that so far, the city and you and your husband has not been a great match. I would have given good odds the other way, but so much has changed to “my city” since 9/11, the greed has become a bit much, even for NY and I am reminded that on each visit, when favorite old places in Manhattan, especially mid-town, keep disappearing, replaced by essentially expensive nothing. Seems like you will have/had a great trip back in your familiar MI territory.