L'aura del Campo

Autumn: 2 Qawl (November 24)

2005-11-24

Excerpts from my Journal, pages 794-795, that I write to a friend.

Thanksgiving Day chez Celeste. Quite crowded this morn but its thinned out now. Most are at dinner. I'm not because I'm expected @ Aimée's @ 2. I've been looking forward to that all day. Went walking this morning. Place is deserted + cold. Sun's out but it was breezy earlier & around 40. Yesterday was so warm! Le Pig opens @ 6; Java Break @ 4.

I shaved my beard off so my face is feeling a bit cold. Want to look halfways respectable. Put on the new brown shoes. Threw the old ones out - sole's shot, cracked, split in two. Have brown pants that barely fit me due to my gain in weight.

Eating horse doovers, me sitting in my "new" red silk. Nice greasy food, plus toasted squares and balls of cheese. Sipping coffee. Ethiopian Harrar, my favorite. It's respectfully quiet. Dave's playing guitar; 2 folks playing chess, one doing crosswords; 2 children behaving very well.

Is Gary talking turkey - a gobble, gobble then playing with the potatoes and gravy, does he eat green beans or stuffing? Or did y'all get a ham, scamble some eggs, break out the beer and serve it with mac & cheese?

Eileen and Gary Strong are working hard to put the final touches in place.

It's not safe to think much today. Last year I ate @ LINK with a couple hundred others. THAT WAS DEPRESSING! '03 was at the Andersons I believe. '02 at Samuels Grand Manor. '01 was cooked and served by Peter. It's been a year since I've heard from him. 2 1/2 years since I've spoken with Kevin - his birthday is a week from today. Earlier Thanksgiving Dinners were spent with Aunt Alice & Judith. I should call cousin Judy today, if not, this weekend will do. Left a message with cousin Carol. Can only imagine how you spend this day. I hope you are happy. And I pray everyone else is as well.

The pecan, apple and pumpkin pie are sitting by me. No "Nonsuch" mince meat like my Mother's. (I'd take 2 pieces of pumpkin, Shelley 2 mince meat.) Time to eat. I've waited till the others went thru the buffet. I'm really not hungry at all.

OVERHEARD

"He's known you for 3 years now. You're not what he thought." Eileen to Shaun re his son Tristan (age 3) going out the door to join Becca and co.


SENSED

Pile of dead marigolds; cold sun; deserted downtown