Dear Angie

Writing Prompt: You return home from work to find a Dear John letter on your kitchen table. Oddly enough, it’s from one of your favorite pieces of furniture. What does the letter say?

Dear Angie,

You bought me many years ago for the purpose of relaxing in me while reading a good novel. Lately though, most of the use that I get is when your daughter climbs up and down on top of me. Let’s not even talk about that. Really what’s upsetting me the most is that you haven’t sat in me and read a good book in a very long time. Before the little one arrived, I was mostly used as a 3^rd closet. You would set your work clothes on me every day and that’s as much of the activity I would get from you. I even hoped against hope that you might even relax in me and write a letter or take a good nap. Nothing! Zilch!

I’ve been wondering, why have you kept me this long? Do you think you might actually use me again? I really don’t think you will. So I am leaving you this letter to tell you that it’s been nice knowing you. I was looking forward all those years ago to reading so many good books behind or to the side of you. But since I can’t even remember the last time that happened, I think it’s time to call our relationship quits. 

I wish you the best. I hope that you will learn a lesson in my leaving. Take some time for yourself! Treat yourself and the other furniture with some dignity. We all deserve it.

It was nice knowing you.

The reading chair

Shoe Snafu

I believe there is a saying that the thing you love most is your greatest weakness. Actually I’m probably making that up so that it fits my entry. I am sure I’ve mentioned that I like shoes. I wouldn’t say they are my greatest love but I do have a lot. 

Anyway, I had a quandary early this winter because a pair of snow boots that I’ve had for 12 years had finally decided to call it quits. I was walking through the streets and a big chunk of the area that kept the sole connected to the boot popped out of my shoes. I was discombobulated and ended up starting to limp. When I investigated further, the heel of the shoe was flapping mid-air as if someone had taken a bite out of my heel. I made my way back home. Upon further viewing, most of this area had become crumbly and was giving way. I got very sad because I remembered when I bought these boots and how they had become my trusty winter boots. 

I had a very hard time letting go of those boots. I decided to visit every shoe repair place in the vicinity of home and work to get an estimate/opinion on what it would take to fix them. 4 out of the 7 cobblers I visited said it wasn’t worth fixing them. They said it “would be very expensive and I should be happy they lasted that long in the first place.” I tried to contain my sadness…but odds weren’t looking very good. After 2 weeks of running around with flappy heeled boots in a bag, I gave up on them. Sniff, sniff!

I bought another pair of winter boots soon there after (and let’s not forget how much I needed them this winter!!). But they just aren’t the same. They aren’t as warm as my old boots and not as kick ass, which is very important in a good snow boot. We’ll see how I feel about them next winter. The thought of them right now just doesn’t even make me happy. 

Just when you thought I’d given up with all this silly talk about shoes, I have more to add. Yesterday I wore a pair of very classy boots that I often wear with suits. As I was walking to the subway, I felt a little breeze hitting my foot. Lo and Behold! When I looked down, the stitching of the shoe along the zipper had opened up. I couldn’t believe it. Yet another pair of shoes that I’d had for a while (not as long as my boots!!) that were calling it quits. How could this be??

My shoe snafus mean a number of things:

1)      Shoes aren’t quite made as well as they used to be

2)      I am particularly abusive to my shoes

3)      It’s time to find something else with which to get obsessed (Not like I really need any other things)

Gasoline of Life

I walked by a sign yesterday that said ‘coffee is the gasoline of life’ and I chuckled. The expression captured my sentiments perfectly. Despite being raised in a family that subsisted on caffeine, I did not have my first cup of coffee until I was in college. 

I went to school in the morning to early afternoon and worked in the late afternoon through evening. I found it hard to stay awake through many of my lectures. In order to feel alive, I decided to try some coffee one morning (and it was what I call a ‘cheater’ coffee i.e. flavored coffee) and it helped. I was more engaged and I asked questions. That’s how it started. I would need a cup in the morning and one in the early afternoon to make it through work or to get studying done. I could go very long stretches of time concentrating with a cup of joe by my side. 

Over time it has become a trigger to many good memories. As most people know, Starbucks is my second home (not any particular Starbucks but more the concept). During college and grad school, I would visit the coffee shop across the street for my afternoon coffee. I knew the people who worked there by name and they would see me coming and have my coffee ready for me. It was an emotional, mental and spiritual pick-me-up. 

On occasion I would meet a teaching assistant or a friend for a cup of coffee and we’d have some lovely discussions about what I was reading, what was going on in the world, questions about life etc. The cup of coffee was an excuse for and a comfort during these social engagements. Where other people were smoking cigarettes to be social, I found the cup that my hand surrounded as the energy that fed my ideas. 

Whenever I am in Europe it is my excuse to do some people-watching. I order a cup and watch the people go by or read a book or do some writing. All things that I find comforting. 

As I have gotten older, I have become a bit of coffee snob – trying different roasts and beans from all over the world - sensing the top and bottom notes and flavors like a sommelier. I often make coffee at home and say to my husband “I think this is my favorite roast!” He always reminds me that I say that about almost every new bean that I try. Oh well, that might be true but there is relief and solace to almost all the roasts that I try. I have since abandoned my trusty flavored coffees of yore since they just don’t have the complexity of regular roasts. I used to think decaf was for sissies but now, I like it. It’s especially helpful when you enjoy the flavor of coffee but don’t need the buzz (and to get through pregnancy!).  But yes, coffee has become my gasoline – without it, I run on empty and sputter along.

Ashes to Ashes

Today is Ash Wednesday. It is the official beginning of Lent when we remember the time in Jesus’ life leading up to his crucifixion. Normally during this time, Catholics make a sacrifice to show their faith and to feel a little bit of what Jesus went through to save us. 

Most people give up red meat on Fridays during Lent. It’s the absolute bare minimum for most Catholics. Others go all out. My friend has given up all forms of sweets (chocolate, cakes, cookies, candy) for Lent for a number of years. She’s brave. I can’t do that. 

I have tried to do things for myself and for others. One year I decided to go to the gym every day of Lent. Another year I gave up all bread and white flour products. I’ve tried numerous times to give up foul language but I’m a New Yorker. You can take the girl out of New York but you can’t take the New York out of the girl, right? I usually have messed that one up on my morning commute on Ash Wednesday. 

In the past I have volunteered every weekend and have tried do something nice for other people every day of Lent. I have to admit that was a really nice Lenten season. I felt like I made a difference in other people’s lives. 

This year I am giving up all shopping except for food and necessities (diapers, medicine, toiletries). No clothes or shoe shopping for me or my daughter or my husband. For no one really (I would like this to really sink in but I have a feeling something will come up where I might have to buy a gift for someone –s o I will make it non-clothing related). I’ve also given up book shopping. Friends, this might kill me. I will only use the public library for my reading entertainment or the books I already have. 

And I’m also doing something this year…I’m going to attempt to write every day of Lent. My blog has fallen to the wayside a lot in the past year or so. I feel that I have lost my creativity, my ‘me’ and I want to get that back. So I going to do my best to post a blog every day of Lent….so starting today until April 17^th, I’ll post something here. 

Please keep me honest to my cause. Read my blog, comment if you want, mention it to others, send me ideas of things to write (because sometimes I really don’t have any ideas – Yes, it’s hard to believe but it’s true). Hopefully I’ll give others a laugh during this Lenten season or I’ll help them ponder important stuff (like how can meetings be avoided as a society? Or why do people do the things they do? Or do people’s moles move as they age?). 

Check in whenever you can. Over and out…moi.