How I Spent Spring Break
My kids went to their dad’s for the week. So what did I do?
My friends and I went out dancing and met someone mythical. We were disappointed by the new, new, new Rich’s and its DJ, but that didn’t keep us from staying until 3:30 AM. (Shout out to Jennifer! JENNIFER.)
My friend Rose took me to dinner at Mia Bella. We drank wine and had everything with extra olive oil. She turned me on to Jacob’s Creek merlot. I used to like Red Diamond, but now that I’ve had Jacob’s, I can never drink Red Diamond again. That happens to me with every new glass I drink, just about. Rose said Scorpios (her) and Capricorns (me) always overindulge together. Besides wine, she always turns me on to the best books I’ve ever read. Like this short story anthology, and this eerily accurate astrology tome.
I spent a good hour talking, via phone, with my new editor, about all the things that authors and editors should discuss. My old editor left her job to pursue bigger, brighter things. She told me, at the time, that she was inspired to do so by my upcoming novel. Isn’t that funny? I hope it’s funny and not a bad thing… I think it’s good, even though I miss her. I hope she’s doing very well.
My boyfriend and I did art. I painted, he sculpted and collaged. And it felt so right. We bought supplies to do more stuff in the future. We organized the “crafting room” so that we can all do art (me, him, the kids) whenever we feel like it. I think that’s an important thing for families to do – at least as important as playing video games and taking out the trash.
We went to Central Market and bought sexy foods. Like cilantro pecan pesto and olive bread and snap beans and jumbo Gulf shrimp. Then we cooked the sexy foods up and swallowed them with two bottles of Red Diamond. Since we had to get rid of it, you know. Since I’m not drinking it anymore.
We planted celosias in my front yard, and fertilized the lawn, and got to know my neighbors better. That was nice. At first everyone in neighborhood seemed quiet and keep-to-themselves-y. But they’re not. They’re just busy, like me. I’ve learned that the time to connect with my neighbors is Saturday morning, in the yard. If I go out into my yard, someone’s bound to come by, beer in hand, maybe, and start up a conversation. I like it. It’s fun. It’s what a community should be. It’s why I pay on my mortgage. I like being middle class. At first I thought it’d be hard, making the switch. But now I see that it doesn’t matter how you get there, because everyone in your neighborhood works just as hard as you do, and for the same reasons. That’s really what it comes down to, this middle classiness. That, and liquor. Seriously – there are more liquor stores here in my neighborhood than in the ghetto-est ghettos I know.
I missed my kids a little, then a lot, then not at all, then just the right amount for them to come home again. I’m glad they’re back. Tomorrow we’ll paint together. This weekend we’re going to the Bayou City Arts Festival. And I suppose we’ll eat crawfish, because I promised.
It was a good week, and next week will be better. And better, and better, and the next one always better, until we’re done. God willing. Amen.
