Being out of work for the past 6 months has caused me to be reflective or maybe my brain is atrophying. I have also been on a bit of a tear lately about the world around me. Moving back here from a more sheltered environment overseas has been difficult and unfortunately, that difficulty has been manifest in several rants on my part. Nevertheless, it is the New Year and I am determined now to focus on the positive – future, past and present!
With a lot of time on my hands, I have been thinking back a lot. The images come in glimpses and out of order. The past provides such interesting prelude.
A summer flea market on Broadway in NYC. Handmade earrings were always one of my favorite buys there. I used to have such an eclectic collection…necessary since I was a Punk and worked in a hair salon.
Standing on a NYC subway platform at two in the morning, in the bitter cold, definitely more than buzzed. I took far too many risks back then. Forget about serial killers, it is a wonder I did not fall onto the tracks.
Skipping out of work with my friend Janice to visit DC’s National Museum. What a coup getting into the Picasso exhibit through the backdoor (thanks Museum Guard)! However, what I took away was a new and enduring appreciation of the Victorian period…the museum shop was full of Victorian items from a previous exhibit. I have since become a huge fan. My favorite is the Victorian Neo-classicist, John William Godward. In an ironic turn, he supposedly killed himself because he felt the world was not big enough for both his and Picasso’s work.
Driving through Albemarle County in Virginia. This is an area strewn with horse farms and incredibly picturesque countryside views. I stopped once to take a picture at the historic Grace Church for my step-mom and nearly got run over by a panel truck. Totally worth it.
Pizza Margherita at the US Military beach in Naples. I can still smell the slightly charred crust and the olive oil. We would swim for hours in the Mediterranean (pre-Jaws) and then feast on this wonderful pizza. No food will ever top Neapolitan pizza at the beach.
Jumping into a swimming pool on a hot day in our housing compound in Bangkok. When I say “jump” I mean “jump” without any preparation. I came off the school bus in my Catholic school uniform, dropped my books, and jumped into the pool fully clothed. It drove our maid nuts but there was nothing so absolutely satisfying as cold water on your skin after sitting in a hot bus in Bangkok traffic!
Riding my soap-box car, the Pink Panther, down a hill in a construction zone. Our housing development in Italy was continually under construction, but that was not going to deter me. Talk about a bumpy ride…probably the only thing that prevented me from seeing my life flash by was the car’s scratched up Plexiglas screen.
Enjoying maple frosted doughnuts in Montreal. My favorite flavor in the world is maple. I love Maple Nut Goodies so imagine my happiness at discovering maple frosted doughnuts in a Dunkin Doughnuts in Montreal. Bliss. Imagine my unhappiness when I thought I had discovered the same in a convenience store in eastern Pennsylvania. Peanut butter frosted doughnuts. No label. Very disappointing.
Discovering mojitos in Riga. Riga in March is very cold. Sub-zero. We stumbled upon a Mexican restaurant there…go figure. Why I decided to order something cold to drink…I have no idea. But it was then and there that I met Mr. Mojito. And I have never looked back. My favorite mixed drink. I am a Jack on ice girl for the most part (even though I do enjoy a good scotch too)…I do not normally partake in mixed drinks. But after that mojito…I am more open to mixing.
I understand why the young look to the future. But in my case, age puts a soft filter on the past so that looking back more than often puts a smile on my face. One of life's great defense mechanisms. Whatever gets you through the day.
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