The Week that Was
Flew east.
Flew west.
Bought bialys at College town Bagels in Ithaca, New York. (One of those places that smells of hot bread, even at night.)
Spoke at State U of New York at Oswego.
Spoke at Metropolitan Museum in New York, New York.
Saw my friend Karl who was teaching "The Elephant Man" and who was mildly affected by his students’ disaffection for the flick.
Saw my old friend Jim who has a new book of poems coming out soon.
Saw my pal Ira who is just home from a long sojourn in Thailand. Ira is the world’s largest Buddhist monk. Hands down.
Watched beloved New York Mets go down the drain.
Ate bacon with Clea who is studying all of Asia and cooking Middle Eastern street foods.
Talked with glass artist, Katherine who is trying to find a video camera fast enough to film breaking tempered glass.
Met fellow from MIT who believes above can be accomplished, maybe.
Talked to flight attendant who is scared of dogs. Told her Vidal’s most dangerous feature is his breath.
Ate glorious take out food from Zabar’s in Manhattan.
Talked about a poet’s recent suicide with my literary agent Irene. Talked about death with old friend David whose wife passed away almost one year ago.
Talked about living with David who is working gently at the art of light and breathing. They are the same art.
Talked to my wife Connie about starting a bell choir.
Talked to old dog Roscoe about the scent of love.
Talked to young dog Maggie about same.
Talked to my father in law Bill about miseries of selling the house.
Talked to my mother in law, Norma, about misery of selling hand made crafts in era of Chinese knock offs.
Talked to stepson Ross about his first college paper.
Tried on silly hat made from pine cones while dreaming.
Talked about human rights with fellow from South Africa whose car broke down in South Dakota. He was dropping off rental at airport.
Got back to Iowa City just in time for tornado sirens. It was a real tornado. It didn’t do significant damage except to say that it scared lots of creatures.
While the tornado was coming I put on my New York Mets warm-up jacket. I figured disaster had already struck the Mets so I’d be safe if I wore it.
Had a second dream about a hat made of pine cones. Suspect it might be my father checking in from the afterlife. Hi dad.
S.K.
Planet of the Blind 