A Short Recap of the Last Twenty-One Hundred Days, Give or Take a Few

Photo Credit: George Page

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I was thinking of the post wherein I mentioned books written in letter form and this thought came to me, "Why not write my entire post in letter form?" An ideal opportunity arose when I found an old e-mail address . Instead of writing to the addressee alone, here it is for you also:

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Hi Jennifer B.!

I'm glad I found your address. A lot has happened since I left Roanoke all those years ago and I don't think I even sent you a postcard. You cross my mind every day because when I remember you, I remember most the books you brought by on your walks with Lucy. I stayed seven months in San Francisco in a lovely studio in what used to be an old hotel frequented by opera singers and actors with wood floors and huge windows. There was a clawfoot tub on a pedestal, the first of a succession of clawfoot tubs on pedestals. More about them later. The studio overlooked a magical garden completely planted and cared for by a Vietnamese man. I put some pots of chrysanthemum on the windowseat to show my appreciation and sometimes he waved. On the floor beneath (the basement), services were held for Muslims. I loved hearing the long sonorous prayers coming up through my floorboards. On night I was moved to reciprocate with Amazing Gracy in what my mother called my carrying voice and found an invitation at my door the next day. I responded with a note on the door saying I had my own faith traditions but appreciated their invite. A flyer at the library led me to a part-time training job serving lunch to about 50 Chinese women at the Salvation Army residential apartments close to Market Street. Unfortunately, I didn't learn any Chinese which would have been useful as a couple of months later, I was getting a flu shot at the Fisherman's Wharf Walgreen's when I inadvertently helped six elderly Chinese ladies fill out forms. Their interpreter had failed to show. I was touched that they trusted me with their phone numbers and home addresses. Hand motions and smiles work for all languages. Life in the City by the Bay was stretching the budget so I moved on up to Eureka in redwood country where I had visited my son when he was at Humboldt State. I lucked out with another winning place to live, a cottage divided into apartments diagonally across from the famous Carson Mansion which at Christmas lit up like an old movie set. Another part-time job came my way at the Humdoldt Senior Resource Center. It was there that I thought of you most as "Young Boss" recommended my reading Water for Elephants. That brought a flood of memories about the Patchett books you loaned me and the beautifulThe Solace of Leaving Early. And how surprised you were when I said the time traveller was "a jerk." I wondered if anybody in Eureka would be as kind to me as you were when I was so sick with the shingles and you asked me what I would like best. You brought Sprite which I considered the ultimate prescription. I stayed in Eureka for the two years of my lease and then headed back to Chapel Hill. But guess what! I'm now in New York City. More later. So, enough of me, what have you been up to? I've lost track of how old George is by now. Does your bookclub still meet around your fabulous kitchen table? Do you read Cheryl's blog? All for now. Keep in touch.

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...may the blessings of reunions be yours...