i was walking across 3rd avenue, where city buses are constantly passing by in the 100+ degree heat. in an unusual way, a lady from the seventh floor of the building to my left started yelling something to the guy on the other side of the crosswalk from me.
"hey! i'll be on the second floor!" she informed him. he looked up, but he put his hand to his ear and yelled, "what?"
the people who were stopped at the light and i were interested and concerned, so we tried to help. she yelled her announcement again, and the people in the car rolled down their windows to hear what she said. "second floor!" she yelled; "second floor?" he said, holding up two fingers; "second floor," said the people in the car and i, simultaneously with him and i held up two fingers. with his hand still raised, he turned towards our voices and saw me, crossing the crosswalk and holding up two fingers - and for a split second, two strangers were creating a serendipitous exchange of symbols. we were giving each other the "peace" sign.
we smiled, i passed, and was immediately confronted by a "sign up here to legalize medical marijuana" lobbyist. people, just because i am flashing "peace" signs at people doesn't mean that i embrace all that the hippie movement has to offer. i have to draw that line somewhere. but, man, for that moment in the middle of Phoenix on the 3rd avenue crosswalk, there was peace, bro. there was peace.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
the common quotes of late
"there's nothing like cutting a pineapple on the top of a mountain...in the dark... when you don't know how to cut a pineapple" (said Mark Eliason with lots of enthusiasm as he unpacked a whole pineapple on the top of a mountain and prepared to cut it.)
"check out Anderson's tweets from Africa on his blog" (said CNN on the bottom of the screen. first of all, i love the evolution of language - tweets and blogs. well, evolution of technology. and i also love this quote because i love Anderson Cooper - he is my news-crush.)
"gosh, she is so lovely - sigh" (said my thoughts after seeing wedding pictures on facebook of a girl i know. facebook can help your self-esteem when someone posts on your wall but can also remind you how much you try not to envy those people who always look like models.)
"you are beautiful, but i still can't afford you" (said Joseph, a Special Needs ward member, who means he can't afford marriage. i promise. we had to double-check what he meant by that. but thanks for the compliment Joe.)
"and he sweats like a Weed too" (said Trevor Weed, my cousin, about his little baby who carries the family curse of sweating like the dickens. and in Phoenix - oh boy. buckle up. but little Ben is so cute and "very advanced," which is the new phrase one uses to compliment new parents on the achievements of their babies.)
"Sotomayor is a racist...a reverse racist" (said parrots of conservative talk radio)
"Gah!" (said Emma, my niece, with a lot of vigor. i totally agree.)
"i think they're both lying" (said the court clerk of our awfully boring case today as she leaned back in her chair to file her nail while pictures of kittens flickered on her screensaver and i determined never to practice personal injury law and turned to my blog to record this moment. well at least i know what i don't want to do now, i thought dryly. that narrows it down.)
"check out Anderson's tweets from Africa on his blog" (said CNN on the bottom of the screen. first of all, i love the evolution of language - tweets and blogs. well, evolution of technology. and i also love this quote because i love Anderson Cooper - he is my news-crush.)
"gosh, she is so lovely - sigh" (said my thoughts after seeing wedding pictures on facebook of a girl i know. facebook can help your self-esteem when someone posts on your wall but can also remind you how much you try not to envy those people who always look like models.)
"you are beautiful, but i still can't afford you" (said Joseph, a Special Needs ward member, who means he can't afford marriage. i promise. we had to double-check what he meant by that. but thanks for the compliment Joe.)
"and he sweats like a Weed too" (said Trevor Weed, my cousin, about his little baby who carries the family curse of sweating like the dickens. and in Phoenix - oh boy. buckle up. but little Ben is so cute and "very advanced," which is the new phrase one uses to compliment new parents on the achievements of their babies.)
"Sotomayor is a racist...a reverse racist" (said parrots of conservative talk radio)
"Gah!" (said Emma, my niece, with a lot of vigor. i totally agree.)
"i think they're both lying" (said the court clerk of our awfully boring case today as she leaned back in her chair to file her nail while pictures of kittens flickered on her screensaver and i determined never to practice personal injury law and turned to my blog to record this moment. well at least i know what i don't want to do now, i thought dryly. that narrows it down.)
Friday, July 3, 2009
i am beginning to think
that logical or not, love must have a measure of faith in it. the more the better.
and today i realized again that a grand piano just sounds so nice. don't you think it is superior to all other pianos? there's just nothing like it.
and today i learned how delightful it can be when you arrive home and there is a little dog, wagging its tail at you when you walk in the door. it just feels good. i have to admit, i have had a hard time relating to dog people in recent years, but i am breaking through little by little. i like this whole feeling wanted and appreciated just for showin' up. and dogs, i realized, always want to play. and they will always play - on your schedule and at your will. this is not always the case with humans. and so, to this i say: "good dog, charlie." what a good friend.
and today i realized again that a grand piano just sounds so nice. don't you think it is superior to all other pianos? there's just nothing like it.
and today i learned how delightful it can be when you arrive home and there is a little dog, wagging its tail at you when you walk in the door. it just feels good. i have to admit, i have had a hard time relating to dog people in recent years, but i am breaking through little by little. i like this whole feeling wanted and appreciated just for showin' up. and dogs, i realized, always want to play. and they will always play - on your schedule and at your will. this is not always the case with humans. and so, to this i say: "good dog, charlie." what a good friend.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
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