View from the floor

Written last night:

Here I sit, close to the floor, on the king-size mattress, all sheeted up. Next to me is the wooden bed, like a hollow ship. Fore and aft are fine curved wood, but in the middle the springs are tilted and angled and flopping over each other. For the moment I’m completely comfortable leaning against the dresser, with a feather pillow at my back, Zing asleep at the foot of the bed, but today I bought a new bed and arranged for the old one to be hauled away. I’m in a hurry now to make this place comfortable. I started thinking about window coverings and also spent a mind-numbing hour this morning learning the TV, with Mark of the Geek Squad. He showed me how to turn it on, and I felt sure I got it, but tonight it didn’t work. I must be skipping a step. I’ll try again tomorrow.

Ten years ago, when we moved to Tallahassee, I ran on a new street each day — to get to learn the city. Today Zing and I started exploring the central Sacramento grid that same way, only walking. I drove a bit — Zing loves a short drive — and pulled over when we got to a block where you can park an hour without paying. Then Zing and I walked. We passed so many small, interesting houses and apartments. Some were kind of run-down, and others spiffy. I’m beginning to get the itch to draw. One building with four apartments had such a tidy entrance, with a small symmetrical front garden and a Buddha by the sidewalk. Another had three large, flat dishes filled with reddish wrinkled fruit laid out between sidewalk and street like an offering. Was I supposed to take one? I’m tempted to return tomorrow to see if they’re still there. 

Then, for a moment on the way back, I was unable to find Rosa — I knew she had to be hiding somewhere nearby. She did appear, one block farther away than I remembered. That will teach me to make a note of where we park when exploring this brand new city. 

I am hearing from friends hunkered down in Florida, waiting for Matthew to pass. May he do so lightly!

Love,
k