Photos from NY and Home Again
Don't get any ideas.
I'm halfway through the New York show, and so feeling pretty good about it all. Busy, yes, but still managing to smell a few roses along the way. The weather has been wonderful, warm even. On my first night, I made a conscious effort to break out of my introvert shell and texted one of my colleagues to see if she'd join me for dinner. She did! Last night I had a few moments to break away from the conference hotel and visit the Madhus. I got to hug everyone, have a glass of wine, and watch some of the final presidential debate before hopping the subway home. I figured it was going to be my only chance to ride it, so what the heck. I took it a few extra stops to as to walk to the hotel through Grand Central station. Here are some of the things I also enjoyed yesterday evening:
That Gus's barks turned to cuddles before the evening ended. There is something so comforting about petting furry creatures.
I think the late '70's are back. New York denizens are sporting lots of golden bling and fur accessories. Hair is getting bigger. I'm keeping an eye out for shoulder pads.
A man yelling into his phone, an older woman screaming at noone on the street, a younger woman reasoning into the phone in line at the liquor store: "Well, I didn't call you because I knew you needed and wanted your space and that's why I didn't email you."
A ballerina stretching in her toe shoes as she spoke to a young man on the street, pale brocade costume and pale stone of the bank backdrop contrasting her ebony skin.
I saw my first Central Park raccoon, humping across the paved path in front of me, then peering down at me as he made his way up a tree.
The woman across from me in the subway car, dressed in working blue coveralls, sketching the dozing man next to me on a small pad. I caught her eye and we smiled at each other in delight.
Coming up the ramp from the subway into the glory of Grand Central, space soaring yet defined above the few of us moving through it, always on our way somewhere except for the business attired couple grounded in an embrace, caught up in the gravity of the great brass clock, unable to pull away from their kisses and tender words.
Food from my favorite Halal cart. Oh, how I miss the falafel, the mysterious white sauce, the yellow rice.
Construction crews digging up the streets, pulling wooden boards from beneath the pavement. How much wood is buried here? It's always felt like I tread stone upon stone here.
*****
Vancouver was very pleasant. I didn't sleep well for a couple of nights, but that was the worst of it. I had chatty but nice seat companions on the plane rides (on the way back to the US, it was the second-ranked tennis player for BC, on his way to a tennis "man camp" (his words) in San Antonio with his dad and uncle), so learned a bit about liquor laws and Vancouver generally. One of the locals who co-organized the event took us on a little driving tour of the city, but it was raining and foggy. Apparently it's gorgeous there in summer, but we couldn't see much of the harbor and mountains. I sought out good coffee and decent food. It was fun spending foreign money.
*****
OK, off to another work party. Another party tomorrow night, dinner with Cathleen on Thursday, then home Friday!
I had a hard time choosing photos for this post. San Francisco is such a beautiful city, pale, golden, felted by fog, blue just within reach as sky or water, or just a dream away. It's my second night in the City; tomorrow I'm off to Vancouver for four, then to New York for five. I'm compartmentalizing the trip, "bird by bird" as Pointy Pal Rebecca reminded me--one piece at a time ends up as a whole. Then home.
However we choose to define "whole." Absence already makes my heart grow fonder for home. Knowing that absence was imminent, I appreciated more keenly the Saturday spent two-wheeled, motorcycling to the coast with M for one of the most beautiful days of the year. It's so good to share these small adventures with my husband, minor explorations of the beautiful land we're fortunate enough to call home. On Sunday, while I spent a few hours packing, I took time out to knit and watch football so the the dogs could press close, their spines to my thighs, their somnolent weight anchoring me, tethering me even now to their quirks and habits that make up my own routine. Not having them to walk and water puts me at loose ends a bit, changes the boundaries of my day. I'm glad for the change but just as glad to be back to the daily grind. I'm lucky to have that perspective.
Speaking of compartmentalization, one thing I've noticed about myself the last few years: where I used to draw a very bright line between myself and my work, that's blurred a bit. Not only because I really like so many people that I see on the job, but also because I meet so many lovely people at our events, even just in bits and pieces, people I may not see for years at a stretch. Today for instance, just by chance I sat at lunch with the sister of someone I met at a conference two years ago and had a really lovely time just small talking with her. There was a time when that was an effort for me, and after years of practice I guess it's finally become ingrained in a good way.
Maybe it's not the people I interact with, though. Maybe I just feel more at home with me. It's getting late and I'm not expressing this quite right. I'll think about it more.
It's been a fine last few weeks, particularly for feeling connected with family and friends. I've had a couple of meetings with the Pointy Pals. Niece Felicia and I met up with friend Rachel for a trip to the de Young Museum to see the Rudolph Nureyev exhibit. Rachel's school friend was leading the classical quartet playing as part of the opening, what serendipity. We saw ballet and rushed through the display of costumes, then had delicious South Indian food--an event in the City! The following Sunday, I hit the Harvest Fair with Caitlin where we watch sheep dog trials, went to a cheese and beer tasting, admired the mules, and generally gabbed. I seriously need to cultivate more girlfriend time. And, we met Felicia and Erin there for the wine tasting pavilion, what serendipity! M and I attended a fundraiser last week for one of the local ballet companies, held at the Lagunitas brewery and featuring line dancing.
Anyway, it all adds up to being ever more grateful for the life I lead.
Time for the bedtime routine! Even that's shaking me up for the next few nights.
It was a weekend well spent, which meant it went by too quickly.