Morning and Afternoon

[rebeccmeister]

This morning I took the bus up to the old location of Espresso Vivace for breakfast. I sat at one of the granite counters that wrap around the edge of the coffeeshop, ate an almond croissant and drank a latte, and looked out of the windows between reading passages of Life is a Miracle. It is a good book and perhaps I'll re-read it at some other point. I kind of want to add in some ifs, ands, and buts, but at the same time it is refreshingly articulate and humble--proper, to use Berry's own term. He writes about coming to know a place and the long time it takes to learn the stories of a place, which is a fitting subject for me while I ponder how I relate to Seattle and to Arizona.

From there, I walked north, down along Broadway, passing by new Condominium Complexes (Brix is such a displeasing name) and old apartment buildings and trying to put my finger on what I like and what I dislike. For a while I thought about how much I appreciate the moss that gradually creeps up everything over time. That's a substance that is not cultivated but lends appearance. Eventually I reached Le Fournil and remembered the time when that section of road was abandoned and the Flower Lady sold flowers out of the back of a truck instead of the concrete shop. At Eastlake and Boyer I turned right and walked the familiar path between my house and the boathouse (the Pocock Center), and observed in that neighborhood several new houses that seemed fitting in their landscape. Perhaps it was the eaves, or the carefully chosen surfacing material, or the placement of windows, or the size of the projects, or the green between houses--I don't know for sure.

This afternoon, I'll travel out to the airport, and then travel back to Tempe, where I'll pretend I'm ready to resume some other aspect of my life.

Comments

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Have a good flight back.
I am glad we got to get together for beverages and retail therapy.

[rebeccmeister.livejournal.com]

Thank you, hopefully it will be tolerable. I'm glad as well--it's always nice to have a chance to enjoy a civilized visit and swoon around Senor Onion.

[(Anonymous)]

Dear Rebecca,
An interesting boathouse distinction, given that we also spent significant time at a nearby one. Pocock always had such a lovely and relaxed atmosphere. My parents ran into Zoe the other day but she was in the middle of a workout session on the Burke Gilman and didn't have time to chat. Do you by chance know what she's up to these days? I'm a bit ashamed to admit that I couldn't remember her last name.
Have a safe flight.
Sonja

[rebeccmeister.livejournal.com]

I suppose I could acknowledge the other one as well, but even after the time spent there, though, I've spent far more years returning to the Pocock Center, and what's what I associate most with that corner. I really like that boathouse--it's pretty much my Ideal Boathouse.

I don't know much about what Zoe's up to these days--how fun that your parents ran into her! I stay in rather loose contact with some of the Interlochen rowers (now Montlake Rowing, where she used to also coach), but haven't talked to them lately.