“A pair of shoes can change your life. Just ask Cinderella.”

Even though Jim couldn’t be with me he was here in spirit, I celebrated by having lunch at the Oregon College of Art and Craft with another newcomer to Portland, Lisa, who is a sculptor. Then we gallery hopped and I bought myself a pair of opera length embellished velvet gloves to wear with my black cape.  at home I had freshly made granola ( The store has over a dozen varieties) with yogurt and watched an old woody allen movie. Then I totally indulged myself with a marionberry turnover, played with abi and her newest five feet long tunnel box – she is in there now threading a paper bag)- and started  doing delicious organizing tasks around 9 pm.  I got the guest room closet cleared out, the herbarium stuff put away and then had time for a long hot soak with ylang-ylang salts. It was my intention to finally get to one of the Shabbat services here in town but I slept till 9:30. It’s an odd feeling being so ambivalent about formal participation in the Jewish community. It had become so consuming in Montgomery and I am not sure whether I am simply  taking a break or if it part of the false self crusted over me for survival. Several congregations have selichot services late tonight and I may get in gear  for that. Being alone for services didn’t stop me in Montgomery so that’s not my reason. I do know I never want to know as much about a Rabbi as I learned about the rabbis in Montgomery. I prefer the delusion of being able to really admire a rabbi because I don’t  know what an asshole he or she can be in other situations. The whole religion thing here is so less important and people are far more concerned about whether you love trees and gardening  than what house of prayer you go to. And my beginning Buddhism class begin the 26^th…. It’s a journey and  who knows where it takes me.

 

Seeing  the fiber art at the college gallery  made me feel like a total hack and I will take some textile classes there to learn and be inspired to take things to the next level. They are even offering a felt hat making class which sounds like perfect heaven for me. The closet dsign woman gave me a pricey but fair bid for the dressing room and as the weather is quickly changing I am going to have to  open those boxes that hold real shoes and wool and turtlenecks. It gets dark here around 4 in the winter- cool huh?

 

The den fireplace works and it’s amazing to be able to cozy up with a roaring fire. Abi has figured out quickly that she doesn’t want to get anywhere near it, despite a mesh screen and glass doors. Soon I will conquer learning to use the wood stove in the living room, Dana and Stuart tell me that  it is a completely different process than building a fire in a fireplace. My pot rack is up, pans have been liberated from boxes….. and… so I have been told… the mass of cabinets sitting in one of the room will get attached to the walls Monday. Better be true because in  normal fashion I a, attempting to start a women’s book group. About 12 women have responded (craigs list is BIG up here) and if I find 4-5 women  who are simpatico  it will be wonderful. My house will be the hosting place as I  like not having to go out and it’s so big I can easily fit a crowd. SO in short I continue to thrive. The haircut Diane Weil encouraged me to get when she was visiting is great  and I will go back to Adrienne and maybe go even shorter. Abi has been switched to a frozen raw diet so her poop doesn’t smell bad – was that too much information? And I am getting accustomed to having those new houses next to me, mostly because they are finally doing the interior work and I don’t have to listen to rap music or hydraulic hammers.

 

Today Jim released Algae in Callaway Gardens. He found a clear lake near the chapel and sat there for about 30 minutes while alg explored the weeds and mud and water and then took off to the middle of the lake. Jim saw him pop his head up and float peacefully while he surveyed his new kingdom. We talked on the phone about what an important pet he had been for me when I was in the deepest of black depression and how returning him  to the site we found him to maybe find a female friend was a fitting thing to do. It was tearful and joyous and thank goodness for cell phones so we could share the moment despite being so far away. Even Algae gets a new home in a beautiful natural setting. It was the right thing to do at the right time.