So, we've moved. Temporarily. We are currently residing in a lovely house in the center of Chapel Hill, right across the way from the library (perfect). With our own shimmering pool (also perfect). In return for our residence, we're taking care of two gigante Golden Retrievers, and picking up the mail and taking out the trash. But otherwise eating the groceries they left behind and enjoying their Sunday paper (poolside, of course). In case you did not already understand that the Adlards are Creatures of Comfort, you should know that we brought out feather bed, our 400 count sheets, and our perfect pillows along for this housesitting stint.
Daisy is absolutely determined to keep up with these giant dogs. Wherever they go, she follows. They're not all that interested in her, but she is optimistic that they will fall in love with her soon enough. So, she continues to charm them. With a vengeance.
We had a full weekend. And it was full of good things. Friday marked our 6-month anniversary. And we had money (finally). So, we decided to celebrate with dinner at Elaine's. A half-bottle of champagne. Teriyaki beef salad to start. Mustard-seed crusted salmon to share. Another glass of wine, because the champagne had gone its course and inspired us to continue on. And chocolate cake with pistachio ice cream for dessert. Plus, a running conversation (alternately funny, tender, and honest) about what has surprised us most about marriage. An indulgent and ridiculous splurge. After weeks of eggs, we savored every bite. Because, there is really no telling when we will be on the Egg Diet once again.
Saturday, my very-pregnant-with-twins-YES-TWINS friend, Debbie, came over for a walk before the heat set in, and we lounged poolside until even the pool was not enough to make the heat bearable. And my grandparents came to meet their recently arrived great-grandson, Eli - to hold him, and watch him, and listen to him coo. And marvel at the new fact of being great-granparents.
Yesterday morning, we met new friends for Sunday jazz brunch at Weaver Street Market in funky Carrboro and talked and talked on the lawn over coffee and buckwheat pancakes. And watched kids dance between picnic blankets to live music playing. And a whole crew of people hula-hooping (hula-hooping!) on a patch of grass nearby. And two hippies giving out therapeutic massages for a nominal fee. Welcome to Carrboro.
And finally, last night, we went to church on 9th Street in Durham with Leslie Lu in tow. And then found our way down an alley - to a hidden deck to listen to music. A musician, solo with his guitar, who is well known, but spoke to the small crowd casually. "What do you want me to play next? Just let me know if there's something you want to hear. I'll play it for you."
He opened with a cover of "The Times, They are a Changing" - raspy voice ringing out into the open air. Balmy evening. A small intimate crowd. People hanging over the ledge of the deck. Feet swinging from stairwells. And cross-legged on the ground. Leslie and I took turns holding a friend's wide-eyed baby, so his mother could have a moment to eat dinner. And there was something very wonderful and complete about sitting out on a summer evening, listening to good (very good) music, surrounded by friends and strangers - delaying the end of the weekend together.
5 comments:
That is just lovely writing! You both write beautifully in your slightly different ways, and the picture you have painted here of Carborro and the cool casual singer are lovely images of the place you call home - the kind of images that others would like to read, not once, but often, like a lovely melody. It would be nice if you created a collection of beautiful stories about beautiful places and encounters in your county or state, with the possibility of publishing them sometime. They can be even more beautiful than a picture book, because your prose is like poetry. Keep writing - and have lots of love from the other side of the big water!
Anna, ypu have painted a lovely word picture of your 6 month celebration weekend. Thank you for sharing it with us. It makes us feel so much part of your lives as we read your beautiful prose. I love you.
Cool! A pool!
The word "gigante" is intriguing and rather engaging, and something new for me. I would live to hear how it sounds in a North Carolinan accent.
I believe gigante is pidgen Spanish of my own concoction. Thanks for your kind comments. Tho, I do believe you are biased seeing as you are now related to me. Anna
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