Morning, 9.21.11

I'll tell you the story of this morning now, while it is still fairly fresh:

This morning I was walking to the busstop and I passed a crazy person.  He was a man in his mid-to-late 50's, wearing denim overalls.  As I got closer to him, I realized he was talking to himself. Passing him, I heard him say "God bless America.  God bless Donald Trump.  God bless Tiger Woods.  They know how to get their shit." At this point, I said quietly, "God bless crazy people."  I am not sure if he heard this, or was responding to it, but as the distance between us slowly widened, he raised his voice to make sure I heard all he said--and it began to seem directed at me, instead of just into the space.  "God bless 'em.  God bless the lesbians, they like to lay down with 14 year old girls.  God bless the Bay Area, they let the perverts walk the streets.  God bless the Bay Area, full of queers..."  On and on, relentlessly, as the distance increased.  At one point, I thought I'd lost him.  I wanted to cry.  I was exhausted physically/mentally, and this barrage of text was exhausting me emotionally/spiritually.  I breathed.  I focused on the blue of the sky.  I did not cry.  

At the crosswalk just before the transit center, waiting for the light to change, I felt a person inches from my left shoulder, and heard a woman's voice say, "It's your hair."  I turned and saw a vagrant woman, shorter than me by a few inches, eyes aligned with mine.  She said "I thought you had bruises on your neck, but it was just your curls."  I put my hand on her shoulder and said "I won't let anyone bruise me."  We smiled at each other.  The light changed, the group of us waiting crossed.  Peripherally, I noticed the overalls man.  He was momentarily silent, it seemed, but as the group crossed, he started in on his litany again.  

But this time, I couldn't really hear it, and it wasn't touching me.  That woman's concern -- thinking that I may have been bruised, and seemingly grateful that I was unharmed -- it protected me and helped me let go of his anger.  It was never mine to take on in the first place.  I got on the bus, knowing instinctively that he was going to get on as well, and so I sat next to a young female student, so that he could not sit next to me.  Sure enough, overalls man got on the bus, still muttering his mixed blessings.  I got my headphones in just before he sat in the seat behind me, and Beirut filled my ears, rather than his voice.  When I got to my office, I discovered that beautiful "My Favorite Memory" video and this time I did cry -- but they were tears of gratitude and joy, not the tears of frustration and exhaustion I nearly cried earlier.  I was at peace.  Peace.  It's a gift we get to give ourselves.

"Blogging."

I used to blog a lot more.

I used to write down a lot more of my thoughts and feelings, turning the words over in my head like one turns a cherry stone over on one's tongue: finding the hard ridge in a moment of clarity, then returning to the smooth, round seed of it all.

I am going to take the step to delete my MySpace (long defunct) soon, but there is a blog up there that dates back . . . oh, to about 2004.  Three jobs, four serious boyfriends, five apartments and hundreds of lifetimes ago.  There was a lot of angst and questioning and probing and searching and luminous realization in those words, those words from 2004 until the last entry, which was made at the beginning of my relationship with Jack.

Now it's two years since that entry, and I am in yet another brave new world, in what is literally the best relationship of my life.  I am stupefied at my constant state of happiness with Dave.  And there's this constant gratefulness, which is truly grateful for the path that brought Dave and I together.  Because if I had not met Jack when I did, at that intersection of our lives, when both he and I needed to have the comfort and security of one another -- if I had not met him then, then I would not have moved back to California.  If I had not moved back to California, I would not have gone to Summer Arts.  If I had not gone to Summer Arts, I wouldn't have learned that one can live every day in a state of emotional openness and self-awareness.  And I wouldn't have met Dave.

Although

I think

We still would have met.

Somehow.

The synergy is just that strong.

The universe has been working towards our favor for so long that I cannot believe it was a random occurrence which brought our existences together.

And I think it was no coincidence that before leaving for Summer Arts, my relationship with Jack had found itself in a place of transition -- where drastic change would have had to have been made for that romantic relationship to begin to thrive again and once more be beneficial to both people.  It hadn't been in that place, and we weren't actively working towards that place.  We weren't being emotionally open or self-aware, we weren't really sharing life the way partners should.  We were just sort of ambling along in the vicinity of one another.  It was still comforting, but it had ceased to be nourishing.  And each of us deserve more than that.  He'll find that, I am sure, should he choose to remain open to that possibility -- that there is happiness and wholeness out there, just waiting for him to say yes to it.

So here it is, this place of "where are my words?"  My words in the past, however eloquent, however inspiring/inspired - they have so often focused on or sprung from mine own seeds of distrust, discomfort, dis-ease, and doubt.  My questioning one thing, defending another.  Suddenly, I have less urge to find conflict.  I love bliss so much that I find no need to give it up, even if it would mean a couple deeply articulated thoughts.

Thanksgiving, For Dave.

Waking up every morning.
Being excited to hear your voice.
Looking forward to seeing your face.

The food I eat is more enjoyable.
Working out is more fun, more productive.

I dance spontaneously more often.
I smile all the time, bigger than ever before.

Even missing you is enjoyable.  It makes the time so deliciously precious.
Then, when I see you, it's a brand new experience.  Your face newly captivates me each time.
Your warmth and presence ever-enticing.
Your wonderful physicality, the skin on your neck, the curve of your arm, the way our limbs fit so nicely together.
All of this gets to be brand-new for the wanting of it.
And the having of it.

My world, already amazing and full of wonderment, expanded tenfold when you and I intersected.

I am ever grateful for this love.

2 a.m.

The corner of West 4th and Perry.

It rained yesterday,

The sky tonight is clear.

If I were to turn off the lights of the city

I could look up and see

Another city mirrored in the sky.

Its flickering pinpoints of light

Dead now these millions of years.

The past in the present.

Did you know...

...that I have a Tumblr?

It is very fun.  It's a little over a year old, so there's lots to explore!

http://laurajdt.tumblr.com

Best Things in Life (as compiled by Dave...with minor assistance from me)

Being Alive

Orgasms

Coffee

Chocolate



.....more to come, I'm sure

Excitement.

Today I got my driver's license.  I will be 28 on November 15th, and I have never ever had a driver's license.  When I was a teenager, we were too poor to pay for behind-the-wheel training.  I was 17 when I moved to my college town and began college -- still a few months away from being of age and able to go in for the test without the behind-the-wheel class--and at that point, since I was walking distance from campus (and remained so for the next three years), it seemed silly to tax my already maxed out financial resources to pay for a car/insurance/gas...

And then I moved to NYC for four years...

And then I moved back to CA....

And I became increasingly depressed by my lack of mobility and independence.  And I resolved to get my license, so that I could at least drive whenever a car was available.

So this Spring, just before Summer Arts, I got my permit.   Then, about 7 weeks ago, I scheduled my test.  I took my test today and passed -- though I need to work on not crossing the limit line -- and then this afternoon, rented a 2010 Prius from Hertz!

Tomorrow at this time, I will be securely in the arms of my sweet and delectable man, Dave, in his bed in Los Angeles.  I plan to take my first ever solo road trip right after work tomorrow.

I.  CANNOT.  WAIT.

I'm downloading Beirut's "Gulag Orkestar" album (introduced to me by Dave) for the drive, as well as a couple other awesome road jams....(Aaron Copeland's "Rodeo," anyone?)

See you on the road!!!

Moving Forward!

Yesterday:  ROOT CANAL.

Today:  DRIVER'S TEST--PASSED!!

Tomorrow: LA TRIP TO VISIT DAVE!

Love In The Time of Laura

This is what happened.

The space between became heavy and dense with loneliness.  Waking up next to someone and feeling miles away.  Loving my friend and losing my sense of being a lover.

This is what happened for nearly seven months.

Then, I left.  I left for Summer Arts.  A month long intensive with 52 students, 7 teachers -- 60 of the most emotionally open, genuine, honest, and generous spirits I have ever had the privilege to work with.  What a freeing and releasing month.

And on day two, I knew I wasn't going to be able to live with Jack anymore.

And on day five, Dave and I discovered each other's hearts.

And now, here I am, having broken up from Jack, and exploring this life-altering love that Dave and I have been blessed to have.

My quote from The Universe this Wednesday night:

          "Sure, there have been surprises. Some, not so fun.

           But you have to admit, Laura, with hindsight,

           moving forward was actually easy.

           Something worth remembering,

           The Universe"

Grilled Shrimp with Citrusy Pesto Pasta over Spinach

1 lb of pre-cooked, deveined, shelled shrimp

Skewers

1 lb rotini (I used rainbow rotini)

Pre-bagged Baby Spinach

3 medium zucchinis

1-2 ears cooked, cut-off-the-cob corn

Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning

1 packet Knorr's Pesto Sauce

Juice of two ripe limes

Olive Oil

Parmesan to taste

Preparation:  Fire up yer coals so they're hot and ready!  The best way to cook during the summer is on the grill, so put the shrimp on the BarBe!  You could also pan-sear them, but then they wouldn't have that delectable smoky flavor.

1) Take the tails off the ends of your shrimp, if they're still on.  Coat the shrimp in approx. 2 Tbsp. of Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning.  Toss the shrimp with the seasoning so that they are as evenly covered as possible.  Skewer the shrimp (about 5 to a skewer seems to be best) so they are ready for grilling.

2)  Begin boiling water for the pasta (cook to directions on the package).

3)  Grill the shrimp while pasta is boiling away -- about 5-7 minutes per side, depending on the heat from the coals and your preference of charred-ness.

4)  Quarter the zucchinis lengthwise and then cut them into slices.

5)  When the pasta is done, drain it while running cool water over it...cooling the pasta down helps add to the summery fresh flavor of the dish.

6)  Toss the drained pasta with the pesto mix, the lime juice, the cut corn, chopped zucchini and Parmesan.  You may add salt/pepper to taste -- and more lime juice, if you want -- I found that as I ate, I was wanting more lime kick!

7)  Once the shrimps are off the BarBe, the meal is ready to be assembled:

          a)  First, place a layer of spinach leaves on the plate.

          b)  Then spread a layer of the pasta/vegetable pesto over the fresh spinach.

          c)  Finally, take shrimp off skewers and add on top.  Liberally!

          d)  If you want to dress this with something more, I recommend a vinaigrette -- I dashed a few drops of Balsamic on and I nommed the dish right up.