beaches
this weekend would have been a getaway, but i am alone and i did not have a way to leave.
i took my niece to the international children’s festival and caught a show. she had her face painted, and we looked at toys and gadgets for kids. when it was done, i walked with her over the burrard bridge and made our way home.
last night, i packed a bag, blanket, candles, and snacks, and a bottle of wine and made my way to the beach near where i once lived.
surfer dude was right.
while it has been more than a year since i last met with him, one of the last things he told me was that the longer i stayed here, the more i could begin to remember the missing bits of my life before i left traveling.
and i have.
he also stated something that seems obvious: that strong emotions bind our memories. i would not be at threat of forgetting the scotch pixie, a friend like yves, or even stef, anymore than I would forget lise.
i thought about this as i sat on the beach and watched the sun go down. as a city gave into the long weekend revelry, and the rich people with their fancy cars let their vehicles purr about the streets, i sat and watched the day turn into night, i thought about some of the things i began to understand about my old life here.
i’m probably overdue for a set of rose-colored glasses. would it work at night?
my time here is coming to a head: to stay a little while longer (but not too long) or to leave soon?
inevitably, stef and i will go our separate ways and my world journey will continue again. i don’t know if i would find a home in another land, or whether i could explore forever.
at 4 am, i drank the last of my wine and discreetly buried my bottle in the sand as i reached for some homemade gatorade.
a young woman crossed my path, and upon seeing me, stumbled in my direction. she offered me a puff in exchange for a light, and i obliged. i wasn’t inclined toward what she had, but i kept company as i took out a cigar that i’d saved for a night like this.
she lost her party, or her party lost her, so we chatted for a little bit.
i offered her my blanket, and she politely refused.
as the dark skies began to lighten, she picked herself up and asked where she could get a coffee.
i recommended a blenz or waves coffee location.
she thanked me and without a goodbye, moved on.
in much the same way, i thought to myself, have my traveling companions and i been to each other.
Tags: August 2008, May 2009
