We’re at the end of another day. The beginning of yet another tomorrow. Lucky us, we made it. Lucky me. I feel blessed to be alive, I’m sure a lot of us, I’m hoping a lot of us feel like that right now. 2,000 of us a day won’t be making it until another tomorrow. For two thousand, today is where it stops. And tomorrow, another two thousand experience their last, and then a day after that. How do we not appreciate not being in that dreadful number? I know I do. It's a gift simply to be alive. Now, the question is, what to do with it, with the gift.
I don’t have my answer. Where I can start though, is appreciating the days I get. Appreciating the gift, that might be a clue into how I could or should use it. A simple goal of mine is to set time each day to take in the day. Recall the things that happened today, thoughts had, people met, food tasted, memories recalled, memories made, sights seen, and voices heard.
Today, I woke up and was excited, or nervous, or dreading, a photoshoot I had scheduled for this morning at 11 am. I skipped out on a boxing class I have recently been attending regularly at 9 am so that I could wash clothes. I did not wash clothes as sorting them took longer than expected, and as I layed in bed longer than expected.
The shoot went okay, I have never felt like a good model. It may be my anxious tendency to not feel comfortable being still, and being watched too closely. But the photographer, Julian (a friend and colleague of mine) was kind and patient enough to make it a good experience. The day was eerily quiet. Not many people outside. As I was driving to Julian's apartment downtown, I noticed how empty and calm ‘outside’ was and thought, perhaps this is what it felt like some years ago when the planet had fewer people on it. Perhaps this is what it felt like when things were ‘simpler’.
We did the shoot, I wore a new favorite shirt, I danced while doing the shoot, we had tacos from Loqui Tacos in the Arts District. Went back to his apartment/studio, took a few more photos and then I left. He gave me his old coat that I mentioned loving when I first saw him wear it some years ago. It didn’t look the same as I remembered it from a few years ago, but I still took it, and I still appreciated the gift. Funny.
After, I met with my sister Charon who brought a leftover thanksgiving plate from her mother's thanksgiving celebration. Lamb and stuffing and green bean salad, and greens and oxtails. When she told me this was going to be the plate I should be expecting, I was less than excited. I don’t like any of that, I can do lamb, but not a preference on Thanksgiving. But, I did certainly, appreciate the thought and made sure she knew that. She nor her mother had to do that, I was/am genuinely grateful. Again, appreciating the gift. I met with her at her cousin Leah’s house. Leah’s daughter recently passed away, I believe the night leading into Thanksgiving. What a day. They offered me fried fish, I got to see my cousin Christy who is always remarkably supportive. I enjoy her energy and spirit even though I really don’t know her well. In another life, had I known her, I believe that bond would’ve been strong.
I left there and headed to a burger place. I had been putting off enjoying this burger since I've been working out and had a photo shoot scheduled for this morning at 11 am. Burgers 99 on Labrea. It’s a new place, but they're doing well. While I waited for my burger to be made, I looked around some of the nearby clothing stores. It’s Black Friday, and I have NEVER participated in Black Friday. I don’t enjoy shopping. I’m too impatient. Ha, now that I write that I think of the one time I went out ‘shopping’ on a black Friday. I had actually gone out shop-lifting and gotten arrested. Maybe that’s why I tend to stay inside. But today, I figured why not, I’m needing (wanting) to update my wardrobe, it’s black Friday, and I’m here waiting, I might as well. Everything is overpriced.
I go back and get the burger and head home. I enjoy the burger, can’t finish the fries, I don’t know why — not as good as I remembered I guess. I come home, take a nap, wake up, find a desk on offer-up, go get it, pay Julian for the tacos, pay Bridget for the car, pay Adolphus for helping me at the market the other day and head home. I read my Garde Manger book, heat up all that food I complained about earlier, drink the best apple juice of my life, about 6 cups of it, and now I lay on my bed at the end of the night jotting it all down. Remembering it, storing it, — Hey, I met a guy, the guy who sold me the desk, Micheal. He is a TV producer for competition shows. I got his email. Who knows, network with everyone. Everyone could be interesting right?
That was my day. Goodnight, and hopefully, thankfully I will be in the lucky count who gets to see tomorrow.
