24 Aug 2005 (Thursday)
When I got up the next morning, the previously crowded house seemed virtually
empty. In fact for a moment I seriously wondered if I were the only one
there. I figured Yvette had already left for work and Allen, Vickie and Josh
had gone to school. I headed for the house’s one bathroom when I heard the
shower running and then saw the door was closed. I tried to wait, but my
bladder had other ideas. I knocked and heard two voices respond, at least one
of which sounded female. I said, “It’s me, Harmony. I hate to interrupt, but
I really have to use the facilities.” Then I heard a voice say, “We’re behind
the curtain, silly; you can come in.” I knew then that the shower occupants
were Lorien and Mindy. I’ve certainly used a toilet before while someone was
taking a shower or a bath on the other side of a shower curtain, and I’ve been
the one behind the curtain while someone found bladder relief, but I’ve also
known people to be falsely accused by an outsider.
So I said, “We might not have a problem, but someone else could. I hate to
bother you, but if you could please just take a quick break from your shower, I
would really appreciate it.” They came out wearing their towels, and I
responded to the urgent call of Mother Nature.
When I came out, I saw some of Mindy’s family, and still don’t know if they
were there all along or had just showed up. In any case, we had a late
breakfast together. They wanted to see more of my writing, so I promised I
would mail or email them something. They did want to get some of the photos I
took, and offered to pay me for them. I said I wouldn’t ask for more than
reimbursement of my costs, as it was done for friends. But Greg said e’d
charge me if e fixed my truck, so paid me anyway. Mindy later told me Greg
wouldn’t have charged me more than es cost, unless e had to charge through the
mechanics business. But as I’m currently short on funds, I kept the money.
I thought it might be awkward giving Lorien and Mindy their presents without
having some for everyone else. But Greg and Ima said they knew we wanted time
to work on our writing project together, so for a while it was just Lorien,
Mindy and I. We had agreed to keep our presents cheap but nice.
Ironically, considering Greg and Ima’s request, I had decided to give Lorien
and Mindy something I had written. I gave Mindy some of my short stories and a
number of poems that I put into a binder. E seemed very pleased, and gave me a
hug and a kiss. I gave a Lorien a copy of one of my plays, and got a hug and
kiss from em too. I told Mindy e didn’t have to know any background to read
the stories and poems, but reminded Lorien that reading a play was very
different than reading a novel. The novelist paints a full picture of a scene
and the people, while a playwright’s description is necessarily sketchy, for
the color and dimension must come from the actors. They gave me two books
which they assured me were from Lorien’s grandparent’s antique store “so they
really didn’t cost very much.” These were Cruel Shoes by one of my favorite
comedians, Steve Martin, and Love Poems selected and edited by Peter
Washington. I was pleased with both the thought and the gifts, so I gave them
each a hug and kiss back. I suspect the poetry book was the idea of Matchmaker
Mindy. When Lorien jokingly told me to be careful who I read the poems to,
Mindy said, “E doesn’t have to be too careful.”
We talked about writing together, and about trying to get some of Lorien’s
poetry and es diary published. Mindy writes poetry as well, but is even more
hesitant about trying to publish es work. Lorien has been posting es diary,
but just began posting es accounts from five years ago. E had started es
online diary on 23 August 2001, ironically less than three weeks before the
terrorist attack of 11 September 2001. Now, a record of Lorien’s life will be
made public each week five years from when it happened.
I told Lorien and Mindy my thoughts on the photos I took of them, and while
they didn’t think there would be a problem with my keeping them, Lorien, who
lives alone, agreed to take them. I almost always write names, places and
dates on the backs of photos I take, but because they use aliases online, I had
only written places and dates. I have copies of all the photos posted on a
private site online, so I can still access them. I’m still not certain how we’
ll work it out with the photos I took of the birthday party, as Lorien and
Mindy will have left before they’re developed. I hate taking my photos to a
one-hour developing place, as the quality is often poor.
Speaking of aliases, Lorien and Mindy are trying to decide what to do with
Flower. Mindy and I believe Lorien think of Flower as a virtual younger
sister, and they share a great deal with each other. But they haven’t showed
Flower Lorien’s online diary, and the website associated with it. Lorien
apparently doesn’t mind sharing it with Flower, but Mindy is concerned about
it. There are things recorded there that Mindy feels, has said and especially
has done that e is nervous about sharing with es younger friend. I couldn’t
give them much advice, except to ask how discrete Flower is. They said e keeps
confidences quite well, perhaps a skill learned by growing up having to be
discrete about the family’s lifestyle. It’s a shame that things that are
natural and healthy and acceptable in much of the world are also things much of
modern American society considers shameful.
Fiona stopped by to drop something off for Yvette, although Mindy and Lorien
insist the real reason was to see me. Frankly, I have my doubts. Fiona is a
“touchy feely person,” but that I think that’s es basic personality, not
something personally directed toward me. I just happen to be here. Mindy
mentioned that we’d be going horseback riding later and e was sure Fiona could
join us, but Fiona didn’t want to go riding in the heat. Frankly, I felt just
a little nervous about riding, as I haven’t done it in quite a long time.
Greg, Ima, Mindy, Bobbie, Raidon, Lorien, Flower and I went to the city where
we could find a place to be indoors during the hot part of the day. It’s been
over 100 degrees Farenheit. We went through a mall, and I picked up some
applications for work. My situation could change very soon, and I might be
looking for work elsewhere. I checked out a place that does photography, but
they take applications online, so I just got a brochure.
After Allen, Vickie and Josh got home from school, several of us went to go
horseback riding. As it ended up, too many of us. Greg, Mindy, Raidon,
Lorien, Flower, Yvette, Vickie, Josh and I had to share two horses. These
belonged to Steve and Diane, who are friends of Yvettes. I haven’t ridden a
horse in a long time, but passed to give others a chance. I shot several
photos, and talked a great deal to Greg. While e said “Ima knows people; I
know cars,” I learned that we have similar views on several subjects. E
supports immigration, perhaps largely because es wife is the offspring of
immigrants, or at least the granddaughter of immigrants. E believes everyone
should have health care, and that the paranoia that’s currently rampant in
America is “ridiculous.” E even said I was welcome to visit them anytime I
came to California.
While we were at dinner, I thought about how my visit with my friends was
drawing to a close, and I felt it. Hopefully, it won’t be too long before I’ll
get a chance to see them in California, but who knows? The best laid plans of
mice and men....
It was hard to leave, partially because Lorien and Mindy literally wouldn’t let
go of me--I had to pry them away. I knew they were joking and knew I had to
leave, but it still felt strange pulling them away. I really wanted to spend
another night, and wished I had made plans to do so. Hopefully, next time I
see them, I myself will be in a position to be more spontaneous. I feel quite
close to them both, and told them both that I loved them, an expression that
they returned. I feel close to Mindy’s entire family. I enjoyed being around
Yvette and es crew, but of course can see them again as they don’t live all
that terribly far away. And I enjoyed meeting Flower, who I think was just
beginning to really warm up to me today. I look forward to seeing them all
again.
Copyright 2006 by The Loveshade Family
|
Harmony