I am so lucky. So lucky.
I stepped off the plane Friday night, cold, tired, exhausted, confused. And took one look at my mother, who just smiled at me simply and said, ‘welcome home.’ And I teared up wearily, thankfully.
I slept fitfully and woke up to a beautiful crystal clear Saturday. Josh Callow came up for breakfast, and we sat at Gaffey Street Diner.
“How are ya hon? We’ve missed you, and we’re proud of you,” the waitress said, refilling my coffee. “I’m glad you came back!”
Josh and I stood at the Korean Friendship Bell and looked at the ocean, placid and blue and vast, while we talked about life and hopes over the rolling green hills. Pradeep sent me a text message. I felt odd that friends in Illinois miss me. I felt happy.
Mom and I had dinner and watched movies together. Kev called, and we went to the pier and walked, got coffee and talked, went and saw Milk. Pontificated on silly life stories. Reflected on fifteen years of friendship.
Drove Mom’s car on Sunday. Driving an SUV with the license plate “TAZ MOM” is a bit irregular. Prayers at starbucks followed by church at gvbc. Hugs for people I consider near-family. Left quietly after church, went to coffee cartel, favourite spot since high school. Drank espresso, thought about life. Sat and looked at the beach and teared up while listening to Kate Nash on the iPod.
All I know is that you’re so nice. You’re the nicest thing I’ve seen… she whispered as I watched waves echo back and forth, dancing over sand, ebbing and flowing. It’s 0 degrees in Urbana today. And sixty-three here.
I am home, and I’m crying on a beach in Redondo remembering mistakes in the past and the man I want to become somewhere in the future. Vaguely I realize there’s sand in my afro.
I wish that you needed me. I wish that you knew that when I said ‘two sugars’ actually I meant three
Sandwiches with mom. Funny stories. Laughter. Worry about the cat. Why is he nearly 20 and so thin? He eats ravenously, yet is skeletal and feeble. He is losing control over his bodily functions, to the detriment of the couch and rugs. We mention putting him down. I pretend not to notice the tears in my mom’s eyes and she doesn’t point out my hands are shaking.
Monday morning comes. Rain nonstop. Laugh at the fact that I feel cold. I get dressed and realize the cat has peed on the pair of jeans I left on my bedroom floor. I swear silently and change. Adrian picks me up. Go to Rex’s Diner. Jose the waiter hugs me and asks about my mom, totalmente en espanol and refuses to hear me in English. I comply and decir que voy a estar aqui por un mes. Estoy feliz aqui. No quiero regresar. Adrian stirs his coffee and talks about hope while the rain continues to fall. Mom calls and I tell her about the cat. We pretend we’re not worried. Pradeep texts again.
Come home. Adrian’s given me a pie. I sneak a taste. My dad sends me a text message. He knows I wont’ call. He asks tentatively via text if I’m home. I say yes, he writes “I miss u” I wonder if he realized that choosing mistresses and beatings over quality timewould come back to him some day. i text back noncommittally. Edwin calls. He’s late. He comes, looking irritable. We go to the Loft for lunch. Sweet Jesus, I’ve missed spam musubi and hawaiian lunch plates. no one knows what saimin is in Illinois. Philistines. Edwin pours his heart out. I listen detached. We go for a walk. He probes on my fears and dreams. He looks at me intently. Are you happy? I grow silent. We share deeply over poorly made lattes in the del amo starbucks. Christmas rushes make everyone impatient.
i wish you couldn’t figure me out, but you’d always want to know what i was about
Edwin hugs me before he leaves, thanks me for hanging out. I can only say the same, and mean it. Daniel calls and picks me up. I’m beginning to feel a bit like a d-level celebrity, one meriting pick ups. We get Mexican food. We laugh, exchange ridiculous inside jokes. I realize I’ve seen nothing but awesome people today. We plan on seeing Slumdog millionaire, but we’re waaaay early for the show. So we get coffee. Then go to del amo. Then I run into random people. andrew butt; stephanie, my dental hygenist. other friends. Buy christmas gifts. feel broke/excited–brokecited?–anyway, get ready to see movie. Get emotional, excited, angry. Love every minute. Run into high school friends, matt, megan, myriam. Realize they’re old like me. Feel so lucky.
Daniel and I talk about deep stuff on the ride home. I thank him and tell him he’s a wonderful friend. He murmurs a response. Walk in front door. Start to cry. Mom sleepily asks what I’m doing at 1 am. I tell her I’m loved. She smiles and says, “did you ever doubt it?” I smile and shrug away the doubts. I tell her I’m lucky to be loved by a family and have friends that pick me up and talk to me about life. She concurs. We avoid the cat topic, save for a lighthearted joke. I tell her I love her. She tells me igualmente and sleeps.
I sit down at the computer and listen to kate nash and ani difranco and regina spektor and stare at the christmas tree. the lights twinkle and i feel loved. I wonder if this is all a dream. if im going to wake up and feel cold and lonely in illinois in the morning. i decide to pray. my mom yells from the bedroom if i’m on facebook again. perhaps it’s time to go to bed.
sufjan stevens comes on and i sit in the quiet glow of the living room, surrounded by twinkling lights. i’ve made a lot of mistakes in my mind. i gingerly pick up the cat and pet him. if i was crying in the van with my friends, it was for freedom–for myself and for the land.
curious
What’s playing?:: Kate Nash – Nicest Thing
