Eleven: What To Say When You Get There

Here we are at the end of July, the summer halfway over... incredible. I'm sure that at the age of 32 it shouldn't be too novel to me that time most fast. Many years ago now, Amanda lamented to me that she had it confirmed in some article that time does, in fact, seem to go faster the older you get, which tracks to my experience, for sure. I also think so many of us, myself included, pass so much of the time with our eyes glued to a screen at work, and at home in our leisure time, that we tend to blank out all of that screen time, unless I suppose perhaps it's spend doing something truly worthwhile.

I'm bringing this post to you from a Starbucks on University between  Adelaide and Richmond. It's 8:22 at night. I came all this way - instead of, I suppose, going to one of the numerous closer Starbucks to my apartment - because I wasn't ready to be alone with my thoughts just yet. I had actually only hoped to go to one a few blocks down at King St., but they were closed for the night being in the heart of the business sector. My whole thought was to go to one that was patently quiet, as opposed to the ones near my place which stand a chance of being happening right now.

Earlier today I saw Mel off at the airport for her long-anticipated trip to Kigali, Rwanda. I have extremely mixed feelings about all of it, because on the one hand it seems like a good opportunity for a "vacation" of sorts, to refresh myself and be on my own for the first time in years. I'm always moping (privately to myself, and sometimes I let slip to my friends at work) about how I don't get much "alone time" and well, I'll have a surplus of it by the end of 10 days.

We both worked from home in the morning, but not without difficulties in my case. It was the first time I had ever attempted to do so on a loaner laptop and there were some technical difficulties, although I got (most of) them sorted out after an hour or so. I was still limited in what I could do, but it didn't need to be an overly busy day. I made us a nice breakfast of omelettes.

Mel had been so good and diligent in getting everything set up and packed for her trip so there wasn't much to-do on our way out the door. We went on the UP, which had its own issue when I noticed the only seats available were facing away from travel, which Mel doesn't like doing. I asked if she wanted to move, and she did, but we couldn't find any seats and ended up taking the next train. She was irritated about that and entertained blaming me but I reminded her that all I asked was if she WANTED to move. If I had waited until the train was moving before pointing it out, maybe she would have just sucked it up. No choice, really.

We made the airport in good time - 3 PM for her 6:00 flight, and chatted with some of her co-workers as they arrived. We hung back at baggage check to wait for a final co-worker but somehow she bypassed that part without telling anyone and we ended up lingering too long. That kind of ruined our chance for a big emotional goodbye scene, saying out quick love-yous as she rushed the security line.

I watched her go in and walked off. When I got back downtown I went to the Union Summer Patio to have Union Chicken for dinner, and a beer.

It's been a busy summer - definitely feels like there's been something every weekend. Summer began in earnest with Ribfest, which was less of a thing this year because Eric couldn't make it, got stuck at work. I also confirmed that my instinct to always change into warmer clothes is always correct. There was also Elton Rohn as the night's entertainment, which underwhelmed Mel, but I thought was fine.

The day after, we were seeing my dad for a delayed Father's Day visit. This was the source of some friction between me and Mel because we were bringing over fixings for a lunch and I was grabbing this and that and she was getting annoyed with me, and I felt like, for all the support and co-operation I give her family, she often seems to pick and choose when she gives the same to my family. She usually comes through, and did this time (we had a splendid visit) but honestly it was an emotional scene. Sometimes, the lack of attention I am able to give my parents is a real sensitive spot, and basically my main anxiety-trigger.

We took a few weekends to ourselves after that - Canada Day weekend we went for a walk in High Park with Mel's friend Amanda and her guy Dan, and then the night after we decided to go see Viki play in her dad's band at some bar out in Leslieville, which was nice, and very much appreciated by her and Joe. Monday, we took just for us.

The weekend after that, we went to the island with Chrispy & Krista and Meaghan. It was fun, with one caveat - we had hoped to go to the family-friendly clothing-mandatory beach there, but it was flooded so we had to go over to the clothing-optional beach. Honestly, it wasn't so bad, just a lot of dicks and balls around. We all took some time being immature but really, it's not too hard to get over it once you're there. I did tell Mel that if it had just been us and strangers, I would have considered getting in on the naked scene. I wouldn't consider myself someone who would do that around friends though. That said, I got way burned on the back, so who knows how bad it could have been.

Other than that, it's been a lot of going back to Oakville on weekends. Last weekend we had lunch with Dad and Deb and various others at Paradiso for Deb's 60th... it was OK, although in continuing the trend, Mel was underwhelmed by the food. Dad has been plotting a big get-together for us at Paradiso as well, as a substitute for the engagement party we never ended up having. I'm trying to de-emphasize it as part of the wedding festivities (since it excludes several key players) and play it more as a meeting of the families, which is overdue. Honestly, I would love to do a big party where everyone comes but... well, I guess that's the wedding.

I had thought, if we had energy, we could go out and see Endgame finally, but we were both feeling tired and drained. Then we got home and Mel's parents were saying they thought they'd go see Yesterday, and Mel was game. Go figure. Actually I get it - big difference between going to see a ponderous 3-hour superhero epic and a fluffy 90-minute musical comedy. I enjoyed it enough for what it was, but we were both nonplussed about the scene with Old John Lennon. I didn't appreciate the invoking of a dead man who can't speak for himself to justify the movie's premise, and this is coming from someone who did just that in writing his play the first time (tellingly, I always rewrote that bit.)

I have more to say... about work, about life, about the wedding, but I've been at this Starbucks suspiciously long and I'm getting antsy. Besides this one has been baking for so long and had to cover so many different topics I really do feel like I need to cut it here. My work and life and writing thoughts are pretty well evergreen, and as previously stated I will have plenty of time to myself this week, so I may make a return sooner than usual.

Until then, keep on rockin'
-Scotto