It's been a shitty day. I didn't get ANY sleep last night, and little things just keep getting on my nerves. And everybody at Java's seemed a little under-the-weather or on-edge this morning. I don't think I'll think about that... What I AM going to think about is the fact that I went to the Farmer's Market on Washington Street today before the lunch crowd came in, and I bought a big box of cherries. Cherries that were dark red and lying directly in the sun. Cherries the size of those "this-'ll-kill-ya" jawbreakers.
It's the middle of July, temperatures are in the upper-70's, it's sunny and pleasant outside. And there I was on lovely Washington Street (well, it's lovely except for the gaping hole where The Royal and the adult bookstore used to be before they burned down on New Year's...) with my very own bag of New York-grown cherries that were warm from the summer sun. There was this fat lady in a green shirt grinning at me, and an old guy at the next booth waving to me. It's very strange; I realized today that I've never commanded as much respect at a job than I do at Java Joe's. I'm not sure what the difference is between now and two weeks ago, because I'm about as effective at making a panino as I am at telling you "who did that one country song with that one guy?" People all around me were smiling friendly smiles; men nodded politely, and girls shyly mumbled, "hi." Sherry from the Garland Gallery waved a hello, and that dude from the tattoo shop waved. It's amazing what an apron will do for one's professional image. You'd think it'd be the other way around.
Ohhhh, suddenly, there was nothing better in the world than that moment.
There is nothing better than cherries from the Farmer's Market. Nothing. Not home-made applesauce, not orange juice in bed, not even Helena's Special Tea, which is unmatched by anything else in the universe. Once, I spent half an hour spitting cherry pits down in front of the Garland Gallery from David and Meg's third-floor apartment. I wish Meg hadn't moved; I'd still love to do that. (Please! I'm SOOOO not as mature as I pretend to be...)
I missed Meg a lot today. I don't know. Maybe it was the cherries. I think I'll write her a letter tonight and send it to her via the directions that everybody keeps giving me to her house. I don't know what it will say, because there's so much I want to tell her, and I NEVER see her. Maybe I'll just say, "Dear Meg... I got cherries today. Miss you. ~Helena*"
It's been a shitty day. Work was fine; I love work. But other than that, it's been shitty.
Except for that one moment... with the cherries...
Love,
~Helena*
"Hey man, don't you know you're choking the cherry..." --Poe.