After work Saturday, I came back home to do my final, frantic run-through the house to prepare for Kim’s arrival. I inflated the air mattress, and dressed it up in some comfy flannel sheets. He arrived pretty much on time and there was movie star parking on the curb, so he didn’t have to fret about finding a place to park. We sat on the stoop for a few minutes and chatted about this and that. Then I brought him upstairs to the house.
I have been nervous about having people over, but Kim was very gracious and my anxiety melted away. So, I called my favorite cabby in the whole world, the lovely and talented Alicia, and she came and whisked us away to Thai Chef, where I introduced Kim to some new and different Thai dishes. Meanwhile, we talked about the upcoming new bar Toad Hall, as well as cruised the sidewalk from our window seats.
Next stop was the Edge, where he tried a Big Daddy IPA, and I had a Jack and Coke. Keith, the barback, is quite a sexy fellow, a violist with a quartet, who has played with the Tulsa symphony, and he and Kim knew people in common from that. Such a small world.
I was feeling radiant in my Bears Gone Wild “Oh Dear” t-shirt of John Deere green, and I think the confidence of wearing a shirt that makes you feel good is attractive. It was a good night, and I felt really “on” and centered, quite in the moment, playing host. It’s in those sorts of service roles that I feel the most at home and myself.
At 440, who should we run into but 
Ernie (showmeonthedoll), and soon he and Kim were discussing bitonalism and Bach.
The conversation flowed all over the place, and we were joined by Corey (infobear) who is doing some sort of internship or work-like thing down in San Jose for the summer.
I could see that he and Kim were happy to be getting acquainted, as I was trying to make sure that Kim had a good time. I was very present and seeing all these people flowing around, in and out of the conversation, and Ernie had taken a shine to my thin black leather gloves. He’s all nice and cuddly and stuff.
But after a few hours of stimulating conversation and stuff, I was growing increasingly tired, so I called Alicia again and she ferried us back home to UGH.
Sunday morning, we rose and broke our fast at Stacks’, that breakfast joint at Hayes Green. We had a leisurely meal, and then it was time for him to go to the airport. I was really glad to have had him over. But a lovely, luxurious post-breakfast nap had to happen so I could be ready for my dinner plans.
Chris, Bjorn, Courtney and I all met at Chris’ place on Valencia. They all were on the ALC7 on the massage team, and we all hit it off and have been hanging out since. We had some magical brownies (really, really strong ones) and then got on BART to head to Daly City for dinner at Todai. Once the magic hit us, we were all really into eating, and I was particularly fascinated by these grilled lobsters. It was really delicious.
But it was time to go, and we made our way back to BART and rode back up to 16th Street. Bjorn wasn’t feeling so hot after supper, so he headed home, and the rest of us went back to Chris’ place and hung out for a little while longer. I became obsessed by stretching my body out while Chris and Courtney had a talk show moment.
At around 22:45, they went to meet a friend of Courtney’s and I made my way home, where I relaxed and tried to read, but was still too magical, and just gave up and got on the computer sitting out on the balcony overlooking St. Mary’s of Maytag.
Finally, though, sleep poke his soft and squishy fingers at me, and I climbed up into the loft bed and was out in three breaths. Sleep, dear sleep.
You must log in to post a comment.